Fabrication of hollow mesoporous NiO hexagonal microspheres via hydrothermal process in ionic liquid

The novel NiO hexagonal hollow microspheres have been successfully prepared by annealing Ni(OH)2, which was synthesized via an ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption–desorption and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The results show that the hollow NiO microstructures are self-organized by mesoporous cubic and hexagonal nanocrystals. The mesoporous structure possessed good thermal stability and high specific surface area (ca. 83 m2/g). The ionic liquid 1-butyl-3methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF4]) was found to play a key role in controlling the morphology of NiO microstructures during the hydrothermal process. The special hollow mesoporous architectures will have potential applications in many fields, such as catalysts, absorbents, sensors, drug-delivery carriers, acoustic insulators and supercapacitors.

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► Ni(OH)2 precursors were synthesized in ionic liquid and water solution by hydrothermal method.
► NiO hollow microspheres were prepared by thermal treatment of Ni(OH)2 precursors.
► NiO hollow microspheres were self-assembled by mesoporous cubic and hexagonal nanocrystals with high specific surface area.
► The mesoporous structure is stable at 773 K.
► The ionic liquid absorbed on the O-terminate surface of the crystals to form hydrogen bond and played key roles in determining the final shape of the NiO novel microstructure.