Polyol synthesis of α-NiS particles and its physico-chemical properties

Using simple and low cost polyol method, alpha-NiS particles are synthesized at different pH conditions (pH 7-pH 14). Single phase formation and possible functional groups of alpha-NiS are identified through X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, respectively. Further, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) clearly reveals the phase purity of alpha-NiS particles. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images reveals the presence of pseudo-spherical particles within the size range of 200-400 nm. Subsequently, the grain size alters the optical and electrical properties of the samples significantly. Similarly, alpha-NiS prepared at pH 8 provides high dielectric constant (2.3 x 10(4)), and low dielectric loss (13 x 10(3)), than the sample prepared at pH 7 of alpha-NiS. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.