Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2022) 137: 463
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-02663-1

Regular Article

Surfactant-assisted synthesis of Ni₂P nanostructures: effect of surfactant concentration on photocatalytic activity

Faculty of Physics, Semnan University, P.O. Box 35195-363, Semnan, Iran

^b n.memarian@semnan.ac.ir

Received: 11 October 2021
Accepted: 30 March 2022
Published online: 13 April 2022

Abstract

Nickel phosphide nanostructures exhibit superior photocatalytic performance for dye removal and hydrogen evolution reaction. In this study, the preparation of Ni₂P nanocatalysts with a simple and convenient hydrothermal method was studied. The effect of Hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) surfactant on the physical properties of the prepared samples was investigated through various characterization techniques, including XRD, FESEM, FTIR, BET, and DRS analysis. The results showed that the presence and concentration of HMT played a significant role in the variation of morphology and surface area of the samples. So that the shape of Ni₂P nanostructures was adjusted, without using a template, by different amounts of HMT. In addition, XRD analysis coupled with Rietveld refinement, and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the phase transition by adding a high amount of HMT surfactant. Due to higher specific surface area, Ni₂P nanostructures synthesized in the presence of surfactant, showed higher photocatalytic activity for MB dye removal under UV lamp irradiation.