Hierarchical α-Ni(OH)2 Composed of Ultrathin Nanosheets with Controlled Interlayer Distances and Their Enhanced Catalytic Performance.

Hierarchical α-Ni(OH)2 assembled of ultrathin nanosheets with the intercalation of diatomic alcohol molecules were synthesized via a facile one-step solvothermal process. The assembly structure avoided the agglomeration of ultrathin nanosheets while retaining their atomic-scale thickness and high surface area. The intercalation of the diatomic alcohol molecules into the transition-metal layers provided larger interlayer spacing and more exposed active sites, which guaranteed the high activity of the α-Ni(OH)2. The as-obtained hierarchical α-Ni(OH)2 exhibited excellent catalytic performance in the reduction of p-nitrophenol, with a maximum reaction rate constant (k) of 6.23 × 10-3 s-1 and a super high activity factor K (K = k/m) of 216.69 s-1 g-1. The layer spacing played the most important role in the reaction, and the catalytic efficiency increased greatly with the increase of the layer spacing of the α-Ni(OH)2. This design concept and synthetic method can also be extended to the production of a wide variety of hierarchical catalysts for other reactions.