Ir-Ni based mono and bimetallic nanocrystals: synthesis, characterization and effect of cationic, anionic, and non-ionic stabilizers

Abstract

Nickel based bimetallic nanocrystals, iridium-nickel play an imperative role in catalysis, electrocatalysis, and magnetic applications. In the present work Ir-Ni bimetallic nanoalloys were synthesized by modified polyol reduction method with different cationic, anionic, and non-ionic surface active agents like CTAB, SDS, TSC, and PVP. The non-ionic surface active agent PVP produced a better effect on nanoparticle size than cationic and anionic surfactants. The synthesized bimetallic nanocrystals were characterized by UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and HRTEM techniques. XRD and FTIR verify the nature of synthesized bimetallic nanocrystals and the interaction between stabilizers and nanoparticles. HRTEM studies reveal that the PVP stabilized Ir-Ni (3:1) and Ir-Ni (1:1) bimetallic nanocrystals are small in size and less dispersed. Particle size range of these nanoparticles is from (1.77-2.36) nm. FESEM images show that nanoparticles are in quasi spherical shape. EDX analysis indicates that the resultant particles are core shell structure with Ni core and Ir shell.