Simple method to synthesize nickel–gold composition nanostructure and their applications

Nickel nanochains assembled with submicrometer-sized flowers were synthesized through a mild hydrothermal method without any template and surfactant. Subsequently, nickel–gold metal composition nanostructures were also prepared by reduction reaction taking advantage of reducing property of nickel metal. The resulting chain superstructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurement. This synthesis of such hierarchical structures implies a simple and inexpensive way to prepare bimetallic composite superstructures in a large-scale. Furthermore, these bimetallic composites could improve their antioxygenation properties.