Fabrication and magnetic properties of hierarchical nickel microwires with nanothorns

Hierarchical nickel microwires with nanothorns were fabricated through a reduction of nickelous salt with hydrazine in diethanolamine. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The growth mechanism of the nickel microwires with nanothorns is proposed, based on the evolution of the structures and morphologies, which could be ascribed to the cooperative effect of the complexant of diethanolamine and inherent magnetic interactions. Magnetic properties of the product were measured at room temperature and compared with other shaped counterparts.