Synthesis and characterisation of NiCoP urchins

NiCoP with an urchin-like structure was successfully synthesised by a facile solvothermal route and characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that NiCoP was a single crystal structure, composed of a large number of urchin-like structures and few spherical structures. In addition, a few hollow urchins-likes were observed. Moreover, many nanorods self-assembled on the surface of the urchin-like NiCoP, with lengths of 300-500 nm and a diameter of 20 nm. The novel NiCoP nuclei were aggregated into spherical particles that gradually grew into hollow urchin-like structures via Ostwald ripening. In addition, NiCoP has good adsorption properties and can absorb some organic dyes, like Malachite green and Congo red.