Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel-Based Monolithic Aerogel via Sol-Gel Method
The synthesis and characterization of nickel-based aerogel prepared using nickel chloride as the precursor via sol-gel method is described. The addition of the polyacrylic acid as an template to the solution of NiCl2•6H2O can guide the gelation in the reaction to build a three dimensional open structure. The aerogel has been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), highresolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), nitrogen adsorption desorption analysis and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that the nickel-based aerogel has a typical three dimensional structure made up of spherical particles with an open porous network and has high surface area about 192 m2/g, average pore diameter about 40nm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show that the aerogel prepared at room temperature belongs to amorphous material. The synthesis of nickel-based aerogel, using polyacrylic acid as an template, is especially unique in our experiment.