Effect of Surface Treatment on the Formation of NiO Nanomaterials by Thermal Oxidation

Thermal oxidation has significant potential for use in synthesizing metal-oxide nanostructures from metallic materials. However, this method has limited applicability to the synthesis of multi-morphology NiO from Ni foil. Techniques consisting of mechanical and chemical approaches were used to pre-treat the Ni foil (prior to oxidation) to promote the formation of nanowires and nanoplates on the NiO layer. These morphologies were realized on the Ni foils scratched by sand paper and a knife, respectively, and subsequently heat-treated at $500^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. Small nanowires (diameter: <10 nm) formed on the Ni foil treated by absolute $HNO_3$ and then oxidized at $500^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The formation of various morphologies (on the pre-treated Ni foil), which differ from that formed in the case of pristine Ni foil after oxidation, may be attributed to the surface melting phenomenon that occurs during the nucleation process.