SpringerLink
Log in

Preparation of electrochromic nickel hydroxide (II) thin film by drying sol obtained by dialysis of solution with precipitate formed from nickel nitrate aqueous solution with ammonia and sorbitol

  • Original Paper: Functional coatings, thin films and membranes (including deposition techniques)
  • Published:
Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nickel hydroxide has two important crystal forms, α-Ni(OH)2 and β-Ni(OH)2. α-Ni(OH)2 is appropriate for application in electrochromic devices due to the reversible and efficient redox process between Ni2+ and Ni3+. In this research, a stable sol with dispersion of α and β-Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles was obtained by dialysis of a mixed aqueous solution of Ni(NO3)2 and NH3. The addition of sorbitol into the aqueous solution of Ni(NO3)2 enhanced the formation ratio of α-Ni(OH)2 when the concentration of sorbitol ([sorbitol]) was more than 0.05 mol/L. A stable sol containing single-phase α-Ni(OH)2 was obtained. α-Ni(OH)2 has a wide interlayer spacing to enable reversible sorption and desorption of important anions such as hydroxide (OH-) and nitrate ions (NO3-) for redox processes involving Ni ions. Furthermore, the sorbitol molecules adsorbed on the surface of the α-Ni(OH)2 particles, thus increasing the hydrophilicity of the Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles to improve the stability of the sol. The optical transmittance of the sol was more than 90% at 500 nm, which indicates that it contained no aggregated particles to cause light scattering. The α-Ni(OH)2 sol enabled the preparation of thin film by drying the sol on a glass substrate. The resulting α-Ni(OH)2 thin films showed reversible electrochromic characteristics. Accordingly, the hydrolysis reactions of Ni ions in aqueous solution with sorbitol formed a stable sol of α-Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles which gave good electrochromic thin films.

Graphical Abstract

Electrochromic characteristics of the Ni(OH)2 thin film prepated by drying the sol obtaied by hydrolysis reaction of Ni(NO3)2 aqueous solution with NH3 aq. and sorbitol.

Highlights

  • α-Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles were obtained by dialysis of Ni(NO3)2 solution with sorbitol and NH3 aq.

  • α-Ni(OH)2 thin films with (003) crystallite orientation were obtained by drying the sol on glass substrates.

  • α-Ni(OH)2 thin films showed reversible electrochromism by supplying electric potential in the range from 0 V to 0.8 V.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. **ng W, Li F, Yan ZF, Lu GQ (2004) Synthesis and electrochemical properties of mesoporous nickel oxide. J Power Sources 134:324–330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lei Y, Guo Z, Xu Z, Guo W, Cong Z, Yu J, Sun J, Jia C, Pu X, Sun Q, On-Chip 3D (2022) Zn/NiOOH helical electrodes for high-energy-density microbattery. Appl. Energy Mater 5:6282–6290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Wang W, Li Z, Yu Z, Su G (2021) The stabilization of Ni(OH)2 by In2O3 rods and the electrochromic performance of Ni(OH)2/In2O3-rod composite porous film. Thin Solid Films 734:138839

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Vieira MM, Lemineur JF, Médard J, Combellas C, Kanoufi F, Noël JM (2022) Nanoimpact electrochemistry to quantify the transformation and electrocatalytic activity of Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles: toward the size-activity relationship at high throughput. J Phys Chem Lett 13:5468–5473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hu Q, Xue Y, Kang J, Scivetti I, Teobaldi G, Selloni A, Guo L, Lu LM (2022) Structure and oxygen evolution activity of β‑NiOOH: where are the protons? ACS Catal 12:295–304

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Niu X, Shen Y, Liang L, Cheng Y, Yin D, Yan H, Liang F, Wang L (2021) Structure and electrochemical performance of Al and Y Co-doped α‑nickel hydroxide as a cathode for a Ni-MH battery. Energy Fuels 35:19835–19842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Liang W, Wang S, Zhang Y, Gu J, Zhu K, Zhong J, Wang X (2020) β-Ni(OH)2 nanosheets coating on 3D flower-like α-Ni(OH)2 as high-performance electrodes for asymmetric supercapacitor and Ni/MH battery. J Alloys Compd 849:156616

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang X, Liu B, Tang J, Dai G, Dong B, Cao L, Gao R, Su Ge (2019) Preparation of Ni(OH)2/TiO2 porous film with novel structure and electrochromic property. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 191:108–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Su C, Qiu M, An Y, Sun S, Zhao C, Mai W (2020) Controllable fabrication of α-Ni(OH)2 thin films with preheating treatment for long-term stable electrochromic and energy storage applications. J Mater Chem C 8:3010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lee YH, Kang JS, Park JH, Kang J, Jo IR, Sung YE, Ahn KS (2020) Color-switchable electrochromic Co(OH)2/Ni(OH)2 nanofilms with ultrafast kinetics for multifunctional smart windows. Nano Energy 72:104720

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rosseinsky DR, Mortimer RJ (2001) Electrochromic systems and the prospects for devices. Adv Mater 13:783–793

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kondrateva AS, Mishin MV, Alexandrov SE (2017) TOF MS investigation of nickel oxide CVD. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 28:2352–2360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Wang F, Jia J, Zhao W, Zhang L, Ma H, Li N, Chen Y (2022) Preparation and electrochromic properties of NiO and ZnO-doped NiO thin films. Mater Sci Semicond Process 151:106986

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. San X, Wang G, Liang B, Ma J, Meng Dan, Shen Y (2015) Flower-like NiO hierarchical microspheres self-assembled with nanosheets: Surfactant-free solvothermal synthesis and their gas sensing properties. J Alloys Compd. 636:357–362

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Djafri DE, Henni A, Zerrouki D (2022) Electrochemical synthesis of highly stable and rapid switching electrochromic Ni(OH)2 nanoflake array films as low-cost method. Mater Chem Phys 279:125704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Xu L, Ding YS, Chen CH, Zhao L, Rimkus C, Joesten R, Suib SL (2008) 3D flowerlike r-nickel hydroxide with enhanced electrochemical activity synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Chem Mater 20:308–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Sharma PK, Fantini MCA, Gorenstein A (1998) Synthesis, characterization and electrochromic properties of NiOxHy thin film prepared by a sol–gel method. Solid State Ion 113–115:457–463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Vidotti M, Salvador RP, Córdoba de Torresi SI (2009) Synthesis and characterization of stable Co and Cd doped nickel hydroxide nanoparticles for electrochemical applications. Ultrason Sonochem 16:35–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Hall DS, Lockwood DJ, Bock C, MacDougall BR (2014) Nickel hydroxides and related materials: a review of their structures, synthesis and properties. Proc R Soc A 471:20140792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang R, Lang J, Liu Y, Lin Z, Yan X (2015) Ultra-small, size-controlled Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles: elucidating the relationship between particle size and electrochemical performance for advanced energy storage devices. NPG Asia Mater 7:e183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tarutani N, Tokudome Y, Jobbágy M, Viva FA, Soler-Illia GJAA, Takahashi M (2016) Single-nanometer-sized low-valence metal hydroxide crystals: synthesis via epoxide-mediated alkalinization and assembly toward functional mesoporous materials. Chem Mater 28:5606–5610

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Koilraj P, Takemoto M, Tokudome Y, Bousquet A, Prevot V, Mousty C (2020) Electrochromic thin films based on NiAl layered double hydroxide nanoclusters for smart windows and low-power displays. ACS Appl Nano Mater 3:6552–6562

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Lerbret A, Mason PE, Venable RM, Cesaro A, Saboungi ML, Pastor RW, Brady JW (2009) Molecular dynamics studies of the conformation of sorbitol. Carbohydr Res 344:2229–2235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Rajamathi M, Subbanna GN, Kamath PV (1997) On the existence of a nickel hydroxide phase which is neither α nor β. J Mater Chem 7:2293–2296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Miao C, Zhu Y, Huang L, Zhao T (2015) The relationship between structural stability and electrochemical performance of multi-element doped alpha nickel hydroxide. J. Power Sources 274:186–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Rossano S, Brouder C, Alouani M, Arrio MA (2000) Calculated optical absorption spectra of Ni2+-bearing compounds. Phys Chem Minerals 27:170–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Rajamathi M, Kamath PV (1998) On the relationship between α-nickel hydroxide and the basic salts of nickel. J Power Sources 70:118–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Vecoven A, Rahman DR, Apblett AW (2020) Green process for preparation of nickel hydroxide films and membranes. JMEPEG 29:5602–5608

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (grant number 19K05013).

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by YS, TK, and NU. The first draft of this manuscript was written by YS and NU and all authors commented on the previous version of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (grant number 19K05013).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, 263-8522, Japan

    Yuma Sasamura, Takashi Kojima & Naofumi Uekawa

Authors
  1. Yuma Sasamura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Takashi Kojima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Naofumi Uekawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Naofumi Uekawa.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sasamura, Y., Kojima, T. & Uekawa, N. Preparation of electrochromic nickel hydroxide (II) thin film by drying sol obtained by dialysis of solution with precipitate formed from nickel nitrate aqueous solution with ammonia and sorbitol. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 108, 588–597 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06244-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06244-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation