Nickel(II) oxide nanostructure derived from metal-organic frameworks and its adsorption capability

Nanosized nickel(II) oxide (NiO) was obtained by oxidation of ([(Ni 2 (nic) 4 (H 2 O)] n , nic = nicotinic acid), a metal-organic framework (MOF), at 350 °C. Nanosized NiO assembled to form block NiO having a mesoporous structure similar to the porous structure of activated carbon block. This bulk NiO exhibits excellent adsorbing capability, with 100% higher adsorption capacities than the [(Ni 2 (nic) 4 (H 2 O)] n MOF towards toluene and water steam; therefore, it can find potential application in gas adsorption. Moreover, this bulk NiO can be synthesized using a facile, environment-friendly, and cost-effective method, and exhibits excellent hydrothermal stability, which is not commonly observed for MOFs.