Template-based synthesis of nickel oxide

Nanocrystalline NiO has been produced using a facile template-based synthesis from nickel nitrate solutions using cellulose as a template. Thus obtained oxides were studied by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, Raman scattering spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and confocal spectromicroscopy. The filamentary/coral morphology of the samples has been evidenced and is built up of agglomerated nanocrystallites with a size in the range of about 26-36 nm. The presence of two-magnon contribution in Raman scattering spectra suggests the existence of antiferromagnetic ordering at room temperature. Finally, the observed near-infrared photoluminescence band at 850 nm has been tentatively attributed to the defect-perturbed Ni²⁺ states at the surface.