Template-free synthesis of Ni 2 P hollow microspheres with great photocatalytic and electrochemical properties

The hollow Ni 2 P microspheres were prepared using a facile one-step template-free solvothermal method. The products were characterized and the results showed that they were pure hexagonal Ni 2 P microspheres, made up of large amounts of Ni 2 P nanoparticles, and had an obvious inner space in the central of the microspheres. After being investigated, it was found that these Ni 2 P hollow spheres initially were some solid spheres, but after a specified time, they were converted to a hollow structure by an Ostwald ripening process, some even had a multi-wall hollow structure. Meanwhile, the as-prepared Ni 2 P hollow spheres showed a good photocatalytic degradation performance for Methylene Blue in aqueous solution. Electrochemical measurements turned out that the Ni 2 P hollow spheres have a great cycling performance. The initial discharge capacity capacity of is Ni 2 P hollow spheres up to 660 mAh g −1 and it always keep in about 300 mAh g −1 within 100 cycles at the current density of 100 mA g −1 .