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Electrical Transport Properties of Large, Individual NiCo 2 O 4 Nanoplates
Author(s) -
Hu Linfeng,
Wu Limin,
Liao Meiyong,
Hu Xinhua,
Fang Xiaosheng
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201102155
Subject(s) - materials science , variable range hopping , nanotechnology , nanostructure , electrical resistivity and conductivity , semiconductor , spinel , thermal conduction , optoelectronics , engineering , electrical engineering , metallurgy , composite material
Understanding the electrical transport properties of individual semiconductor nanostructures is crucial to advancing their practical applications in high‐performance nanodevices. Large‐sized individual nanostructures with smooth surfaces are preferred because they can be easily made into nanodevices using conventional photolithography procedures rather than having to rely on costly and complex electron‐beam lithography techniques. In this study, micrometer‐sized NiCo 2 O 4 nanoplates are successfully prepared from their corresponding hydroxide precursor using a quasi‐topotactic transformation. The Co/Ni atomic arrangement shows no changes during the transformation from the rhombohedral LDH precursor (space group R $ \bar 3 $ m ) to the cubic NiCo 2 O 4 spinel (space group Fd $ \bar 3 $ m ), and the nanoplate retains its initial morphology during the conversion process. In particular, electrical transport within an individual NiCo 2 O 4 nanoplate is further investigated. The mechanisms of electrical conduction in the low‐temperature range ( T < 100 K) can be explained in terms of the Mott's variable‐range hopping model. At high temperatures ( T > 100 K), both the variable‐range hopping and nearest‐neighbor hopping mechanisms contribute to the electrical transport properties of the NiCo 2 O 4 nanoplate. These initial results will be useful to understanding the fundamental characteristics of these nanoplates and to designing functional nanodevices from NiCo 2 O 4 nanostructures.