Solvothermal synthesis and magnetic properties of 3D flower-like NiHPO3•H2O superstructures

A self-assembled three-dimensional (3D) flower-like NiHPO3 center dot H2O micro/nanocomposite structure has been successfully synthesized for the first time by a simple solvothermal method, employing Na6P6O18 as the phosphor source without the assistance of any template or surfactant. The as-obtained product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The formation mechanism was proposed based on the evolution of this morphology as a function of solvothermal time. Some factors influencing the morphology of the NiHPO3 center dot H2O flower-like micro/nanocomposite structures were systematically investigated. The magnetic measurements demonstrated that the flower-like 3D superstructures exhibit ferromagnetic property.