ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 50, Number 2
JKCSEZ 50(2)
April 20, 2006 

Alpha Nickel hydroxide samples have been synthesized by electrodeposition on platinum and nickel substrates at current densities of 1, 5, 6, 7 and 10 mAcm^-2 at a controlled temperature of 30.00 ^oC from Ni(NO₃)₂ bath. Platinum substrate shows a tendency to incorporate less nitrate ions with increase in current density thus producing less hydroxy-deficient nickel hydroxide layers. On the whole the interlayer distance (d₀₀₃) is found to be inversely proportional to the amount of nitrate ions incorporated in-between the lattice. For the first time we have observed a decrease in lattice spacing with increase in concentration of intercalant (anions) and the reason for lattice contraction is attributed to the columbic attractive forces exerted by the oppositely charged nitrate ion and positively charged slabs. The Infrared spectra of the samples with expanded interlayers show two types of OH vibrations corresponding to hydrogen bonded and non-hydrogen bonded OH groups whereas the contracted interlayers show only hydrogen-boded OH groups. Although the faradaic efficiency is found to increase with increase in applied current there is a local minimum at 6.0 mAcm^-2 current density on both platinum and nickel substrates. In this manuscript, GC-MS data is provided which clearly demonstrates the electrodeposited nickel hydroxide sample to consist of huge amount of carbonate ions although the electrolyte solution in nickel nitrate.