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Reduced Graphene Oxide-Induced Recrystallization of NiS Nanorods to Nanosheets and the Improved Na-Storage Properties
journal contribution
posted on 2014-04-07, 00:00 authored by Qin Pan, Jian Xie, Tiejun Zhu, Gaoshao Cao, Xinbing Zhao, Shichao ZhangPreparation of two-dimensional (2D)
graphene-like materials is currently an emerging field in materials
science since the discovery of single-atom-thick graphene prepared
by mechanical cleavage. In this work, we proposed a new method to
prepare 2D NiS, where reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was found to induce
the recrystallization of NiS from nanorods to nanosheets in a hydrothermal
process. The process and mechanism of recrystallization have been
clarified by various characterization techniques, including scanning
electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM),
energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping, and X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS). The characterization of ex situ NiS/rGO products
by SEM and EDS mapping indicates that the recrystallization of NiS
from nanorods to nanosheets is realized actually through an exfoliation
process, while the characterization of in situ NiS/rGO products by
SEM, TEM, and EDS mapping reveals the exfoliation process. The XPS
result demonstrates that hydrothermally assisted chemical bonding
occurs between NiS and rGO, which induces the exfoliation of NiS nanorods
into nanosheets. The obtained NiS/rGO composite shows promising Na-storage
properties.