Nanostructured La2NiO4 synthesized using reverse micellar route and study of their magnetic and photoelectrochemical properties

Abstract

We synthesized La₂NiO₄ nanostructures using the cationic surfactant-based reverse micellar route and reported on the effect of the size and shape of the La₂NiO₄ nanostructures on their magnetic and photoelectrochemical properties. We satisfactorily refined the powder X-ray diffraction data in the tetragonal space group, I4/mmm. Magnetic susceptibility measurements were performed on all samples within the range of 5–300 K. The Curie–Weiss law determines the magnetic susceptibility of bulk La₂NiO₄, and a negative value for the Weiss temperature indicates antiferromagnetic exchange. The field-dependent magnetization curves of bulk La₂NiO₄ suggest a canted antiferromagnetic behaviour. The Mott–Schottky plot demonstrates that La₂NiO₄ is a p-type semiconducting material with holes as the primary charge carriers. Chronoamperometric measurements for these nanomaterials demonstrate excellent photostability of photocurrent.