Synthesis of Nanoflower Precursors in Two-phase System via Microwave-assisted Hydrothermal Method and their in situ Thermal Convention to NiO

The novel nanoflower precursors were successfully fabricated via microwave hydrothermal process in the presence of an anion surfactant Poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone). Nickel oxide (NiO) with the similar morphology of precursors was also obtained by a simple thermal decomposition of the as-prepared precursors at 400 degrees C for 2 h in air. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The synthesized NiO nanoclusters have a cubic structure with an average size 500-1000 nm. The specific capacitance of NiO is about 208.4 F/g.