Shape control of nickel selenides synthesized by a simple hydrothermal reduction process

Nickel selenide (NiSe) nanoparticles were prepared from the reaction of a SeCl4 aqueous solution with a NiCl2 center dot 6H(2)O aqueous solution in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a capping agent and hydrazine hydrate (N2H4 center dot H2O) as a reductant through a hydrothermal method. The size, morphology, chemical composition and purity of these nanoparticles depend on the capping agent, reductant, reaction temperature and time. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.