INTRODUCTION

Nanoscience is the study and nanotechnology is the exploitation of the strange properties of materials smaller than 100 nm, which are nanoparticles to create new useful subjects. Materials in the nano-range exhibit some remarkable properties. These induced properties are due to the variation in the surface potential induced during the transition from microscopic range to nanometer range. As the particle size decreases , the surface contains more and more atoms and the surface atoms dominate the properties of the whole material. The history of nanotechnology started in the early years of Roman and Chinese, they used metalic nano particles to give colours to ceramic and stainless steel materials, the research in the field of nanotechnology was accelerated with the discovery of scanning tunneling microscope(1981) and atomic force microscope(1987).Now we are in the IIIrd generation of nano technology, which focuses on the homogeneous combination of various nano structures. Materials that consist of nano particles or composed with nano particles are known as nano-materials. Nano-materials may be zero dimensional which are nano particles (Np) one dimensional (nano tubes) or two dimensional(Thin films). PROPERTIES OF NANOPARTICLES The physical properties of nano particles deviate considerably from the properties of bulk materials. There are many facts for these variations. Some of the commonly accepted facts are given below. 1. Large fraction of surface atoms. 2. Large surface energy. 3. Spacial confinement. 4. Reduced imperfections. OPTICAL PROPERTIES In the case of metallic nanoparticles the optical properties are closely related to surface plasmons. Plasmon is basically a quantum of plasma oscillations. These plasmons are analogue of photons or phonons which are the quantum of light and sound waves respectively. The plasmons which are concentrated at the surface of materials are referred as surface plasmons, and they can be used to give colour to the materials when nanoparticles are exposed to light of wavelength comparable to the wavelength of plasmons, the plasmons start interacting with these radiations. The properties of surface plasmons are controlled by the shape of surface which holds these plasmons. The surface plasmons control the light that couples with it and thus nonoparticles exhibits different colours. Thus size of particles is responsible for the amazing colours of nanomaterials. This method was used to produce lamps in medieval cathedrals.

ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES In the case of metals, electronic properties are mainly determined by electronic mean free path which is usually of the order 10nm. For nanomaterials the overall size of the conductor may be equal to or less than the mean free path. At this stage electrons are confined at the surface, which increases the resistivity of nanoparticles. Due to the size confinement, capacitance decreases. The current-voltage characteristic of a nanoparticle is a staircase. This phenomenon is called Coulomb Blockade effect & it is used for the fabrication of single electron transistor(SET). The dielectric constant of nano-materials are also very high due to the large no. of grain boundaries. The exciton (pair of an electron and a hole) plays an important role in the electrical properties of metallic nano particles. If the radius of the exciton in a material is much less than the nano dimension of the system, then the system is said to have a weak confinement. If it is greater then the confinement is said to be strong. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES Mechanical properties of nano particles deviate considerably from that of bulk materials. This is due to the fact that in a nanometer scale the surface atoms face different potentials in different directions. The resulting stress modifies the mechanical and structural properties. The cutting tools made with nano materials like tungsten carbide and tantalum carbide are more hard and ware resistant. The youngs modulus of nano materials decreases with decreasing size. The nano materials are quite brittle and shows reduced ductility under tension. The fatigue strength increases with reduction ingrain size of the material, which finds application in the construction of aircrafts. Nano materials are also called super-plastic materials because they have extensive tensile deformation without cracking and fracture. MAGNETIC PROPERTIES The properties of nano materials are usually different from as that of bulk materials. This is mainly due to surface effects and the variations in the electronic environment. In the case of nano particles the thermal energy (KBT) is sufficient to invert the magnetization. The saturation magnetization (MS) and coercive field (HC) varied with average particle size so that nano materials have energy loss comparably smaller than any other materials. Metal particles smaller than 100 nm in primary particle diameter are generally considered as nano particles. Metal nano particles and bimetallic alloys have attracted much interest in the last years due to their unique properties an potential applications in several areas as microelectronics, optoelectonics , catalysis, photocatalysis, magnetic materials, information storage, among others, specifically magnetic nano particles have potential applications is ultra high magnetic storage

devices, ferro-fluids, magnetic refrigeration systems, contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic carriers for drug targeting, catalysis and a rich variety of novel phenomena derived from their collective interactions. Most of the physical and chemical properties of these nanoparticles(NPS) depend on their size and shape. The metal nanoparticles are generally produced by the reduction of metal compounds. The number of procedure is fairly large for example photolytic reduction, radiolytic reduction, solvent extraction reduction, microemulsion technique, alcohol reduction, chemical reduction in aqueous and non aqueous media by hydrazine. In the recent years, there has been considerable interest in the synthesis of metal alloy naonoparticles, the magnetic properties of alloy nanoparticles depend on size, shape, anisotropy, surface effects, crystal structure, composition for magnetic interaction between particles. Various techniques have been used to produce bimetallic alloy nanoparticles including sol-gel method, solvo-thermal method, sono-chemical method, and polyol process. The polyol process is considered as one of the better processes for the production of metallic and bimetallic alloy nanoparticles, because it is simple and cost effective. The process uses a polyalcohol ( eg. ethelene glycol) as both solvent and reducing agent, to produce nanoparticles from metallic cation precursor. The polyol itself can act as protective agent to avoid particle agglomerisation and growth. A whole of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles have been prepared by the polyol route such as Ag, Fe, Ni, Pt, Fe, Pt, Pd, Ru etc. During the last two decades, Ni Nps have attracted much attention because of the potential application in magnetic and electrical devices. Ni Nps are now regarded as anode materials for rechargeable batteries, ethanol fuel cells, and a fine substitute for noble metal Pd-Ag used in the internal electrodes of multilayer ceramic capacitors(MLCCs). One of the earliest reports on the synthesis of Ni Nps by the polyol reaction was done by Fievet et.al starting from Ni(OH)2 as precursor. In most of the methods (PVP) poly(N-vinilpyrrolidone) is used as a protective agent. Wu & Chen obtained Ni Nps without protective agent, through the hydrazine reduction of NiCl2 in E.G in presence of appropriate amount of NaOH. The nanoparticles of pure cobalt probably have special significance in both theory and technology, because these exists uniaxial hexagonal close packed (HCP or a-cobalt) structure besides face centered cubic(FCC or h-cobalt) structure. Many methods such as decomposition of dicobalt octacarbony, pulse-current electro-deposition, gas vapour condensation, salts reduced by reducing agents NaBHCl or H2, are used in the preparation of Co Nps. Cobalt Nps are also prepared by reduction of cobalt salt in hydrazine medium. They are used for magnetic fluids, opto electronics and in data storage. The Co-Ni nano particles are considered as potential candidates for soft magnetic applications such as microwave absorption, electrocatalysis and magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents.

Currently Co-Ni NPs are considered as the best catalyst for the growth of single walled carbon nanotubes(SWCN). The electrocatalytic behaviour of amorphous and crystalline Co-Ni NPs on the oxygen evolution reaction(OER) in 1M KOH has been reported by Lian et.al. The growth of metal alloy nanoparticles is relatively difficult as compared to pure metal nano crystals,because control of size,composition and degree of atomic ordering of alloy are much complicated during the reactions in solution phase.Co-Ni Nps have been synthesized earlier using various methods such as sol-gel method,polyol process and microemulsion method. Nano composite film of Co-Ag alloy have been fabricated using controlled phase separation of immiscible constituents in metastable alloy film ,by annealing of sputtered metastable alloy films. The present investigation was performed to synthesize Nps of Ni, Co, NiCo, AgCo from the metal salts, using a liquid polyol as a solvent and the chemical reducing agent was used in the liquid polyol.

MATERIALS
NiCl2 NaOH EG Hydrazine Acetone Co(NO3 )2 AgNO3 Na2CO3

EXPERIMENTAL Preparation of Ni NPs

Solution of Nickel ion was prepared by dissolving NiCl2.6H2O in distilled water. To this added a solution of NaOH, with stirring. A green coloured slurry of Ni(OH)2 was formed. This was used as a precursor. It was washed several times with water, filtered using whatmann 40 filter paper. Filtered precipitate was dried in an oven at 170-180OC for 1 hr and then grinded to nice powder. About 50 ml of Ethylene glycol(EG) was taken in a 250 ml beaker, heated to 90-100C on a small magnetic stirrer. To this, added hydrazine hydrate, followed by the addition of Ni powder. The reduction was allowed to proceed 60min at this temperature. At the end of all reactions, the suspension was cooled to room temperature, and the black coloured Nickel powder was separated

from the solution, washed several times with water and acetone. The collected particles were then dried in an air oven at 50-60C.

Preparation of Co NPs
The procedure for synthesizing co and Ni particles were the same. Solution of Cobalt ion was prepared by dissolving Co(NO3)2 in distilled water. To this added a solution of NaOH, with stirring. The colour of the slurry was first a black green colour, then changed to rose colour. This was used as a precursor. It was washed several times with water, filtered using whatmann 40 filter paper. Filtered precipitate was dried in an oven at 170-180OC for 1 hr and then grinded to nice powder. About 50 ml of Ethylene glycol(EG) was taken in a 250 ml beaker, heated to 90-100C on a small magnetic stirrer. To this, added hydrazine hydrate, followed by the addition of Co powder. The reduction was allowed to proceed 60min at this temperature. At the end of all reactions, the suspension was cooled to room temperature, and the black coloured Cobalt powder was separated from the solution, washed several times with water and acetone. The collected particles were then dried in an air oven at 50-60C

Preparation of Co-Ni alloy NPs.

For synthesizing Co-Ni alloy nanoparticles a mixture of Co(NO3)2 and NiCl2.6H2O were taken in distilled water. To this added NaOH solution and converted to corresponding hydroxides of Ni and Co. The colour of the slurry was first light bluish green, then changed to deep blue. It was then washed , filtered, dried and then powdered. The powder was heated to 450-500C in an oven for 30mins, to convert the hydroxides to oxide. The black powder was divided to two equal parts. one part is for characterization and other part for reduction. The reduction was done in the same way as discussed earlier. The collected black Co-Ni particles were dried in an air oven at 50-60C.

Preparation of Ag-Co alloy NPs

For synthesizing Ag-Co alloy nano particles , a mixture of Ag(NO)3 and Co(NO3)2 were taken in distilled water. To this, added a solution of Sodium Carbonate. A bluish pink slurry of the Ag-Co carbonates were formed. It was then washed several times with hot water to remove free carbonates. During this process, the precipitate turned black. It was then filtered, dried and powdered. The powder was then heated at 450-500C for 30mins to convert Ag-Co carbonates to Ag-Co oxides. The oxide powder was divided to two parts, one for characterization, one for reduction. Reduction technique was the same. The collected black Ag-Co particles were dried in an air oven at 50-60C. All the chemicals used throughout the study were reagent grade in purity.

Characterization of the nano particles were done through a X-ray diffractometer equipped with a CuK radiation source(=0.15418nm).The phase composition of the samples was determined from the X-ray patterns. The average particle size was calculated from the half widths of the diffraction lines by Scherrer equation. D=k/2cos D=Average particle size , k is the scherrer constant related to the shape and index of the (h k l) of the crystals, is the wavelength of the X rays, 2 is the full width half maximum of the diffraction peak(in radians)and is the Bragg angle.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

XRD spectrum of Ag-CoO2

AgCoO2

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File: SAIFXR110504A-07(AgCo O2).raw - Step: 0.020 - Step time: 29.5 s - WL1: 1.5406 - kA2 Ratio: 0.5 - Generator kV: 40 kV - Generator mA: 35 mA Operations: Smooth 0.258 | Background 0.257,1.000 | Import

In case of AgCoO2 a number of Bragg reflections can be seen which correspond to both AgCoO2 and Co3O4.The peaks at 2=29,38.6,64.9 corresponds to AgCoO2.The peak at 2=36.84 correspond to Co3O4. A similar kind of spectra of AgCoO2 obtained for other workers are shown below(Cigdem guldar,Biliz balikci 2002).

Thus it shows that Ag-CoO2 is formed.

XRD Spectrum of Ag-Co Alloy

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File: SAIFXR110504A-05(AgCo).raw - Step: 0.020 - Step time: 29.5 s - WL1: 1.5406 - kA2 Ratio: 0.5 - Generator kV: 40 kV - Generator mA: 35 mA Operations: Smooth 0.150 | Background 0.257,1.000 | Import

In case of Co-Ag system a number of Bragg reflections can be seen which correspond only to 111(37.929), 200(44.131), 220(64.432), 311(77.183) of FCC Ag. There are no peak corresponds to pure Co particle. A shoulder peak at 2=36.87 corresponds to (311) Co3O4. This spectra is similar to the XRD spectra of pure FCC Ag nano particles. These results agree with those reported by A.J.Garcia-Bastida et.al. in the sense that no Bragg deflections were detected for Co.( A.J.Garcia-Bastida et.al.2005). Mean while other works dealing with nano particles of higher size reported the presence of both Co-Ag reflections(Bala et.al. 2004). The dissimilar particle sizes could explain the observed results. On the other hand the fact not to observe the Bragg reflections of the metal core by XRD could be indicative of a correct core-shell formation(lglesias-silva et.al 2007; Mandal et.al. 2005).thus it is clear that in Ag-Co a true alloy of Ag-Co is formed. XRD spectrum obtained for other workers is shown below.(Jose Garcia-Torres,Elisa Valles,Elvira Gomez 2009 )

XRD Of spectra of Cobalt

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File: SAIFXR110504A-02(Cobalt).raw - Step: 0.020 - Step time: 29.5 s - WL1: 1.5406 - kA2 Ratio: 0.5 - Generator kV: 40 kV - Generator mA: 35 mA Operations: Smooth 0.150 | Background 0.257,1.000 | Import

In case of Co a number of Bragg reflections can be seen which correspond to 111(44.2) of pure FCC Cobalt. The peaks at 220(31.37), 311(36.93), 511(59.39) corresponds to Co3O4. Pure cobalt is oxidized to Co3O4 in air.Thus it is clear that pure Co is formed. XRD spectra of Co obtained for M.Salavati-Niaseri et.al (2008) a)pure Co NPs b)Co NPs exposed in air

XRD Spectrum of Co3O4(Wenbo yae and Wuzong Zhou 2007)

XRD Spectra of CoNi

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File: SAIFXR110504A-06(CoNi).raw - Step: 0.020 - Step time: 29.5 s - WL1: 1.5406 - kA2 Ratio: 0.5 - Generator kV: 40 kV - Generator mA: 35 mA Operations: Smooth 0.150 | Background 0.257,1.000 | Import

XRD Spectra of CoNiO2

Co Ni O2
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File: SAIFXR110504A-04(CoNiO 2).raw - Step: 0.020 - Step time: 29.5 s - WL1: 1.5406 - kA2 Ratio: 0.5 - Generator kV: 40 kV - Generator mA: 35 mA Operations: Smooth 0.150 | Background 0.257,1.000 | Import

In case of CoNio2 a number of Bragg reflections can be seen which correspond to the 220(31.15), 311(36.72), 400(43.03), 511(59.00), 440(64.89) of CoNiO2. Obtained the same kind of spectra for CoNiO2.Thus CoNiO2 formed in pure form

XRD Spectra of Ni

Nickel
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File: SAIFXR110504A-01(Nickel).raw - Step: 0.020 - Step time: 29.5 s - WL1: 1.5406 - kA2 Ratio: 0.5 - Generator kV: 40 kV - Generator mA: 30 mA Operations: Smooth 0.150 | Background 0.257,1.000 | Import

In case of Ni a number of Bragg reflections can be seen which corresponds to 111(44.2), 200(51.5) of FCC Nickel. The peak at 2=38.4 and 2=62.4 corresponds to 111 and 220 of NiO respectively. Ni particles undergoes oxidation in aqueous medium and also in air. Since the Powder was kept for a long time before taking the XRD. This resulted in the oxidation of Ni to Nickel oxide.The spectrum shows Ni is formed in pure form.