Nanorods of copper and nickel oxalates synthesized by the reverse micellar route

Nanorods of nickel and copper oxalate have been synthesized by the reverse micellar route. Powder X-ray diffraction studies and thermo gravimetric analysis confirms the formation of monophasic NiC2O4 x 2H2O and CuC2O4 x H2O. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the as prepared nanorods of nickel and copper have diameter of 250 nm and 130 nm while the length is of the order of 2.5 microm and 480 nm respectively. The aspect ratio of the nanorods could be modified by changing the solvent. The nickel oxalate nanorods appear very smooth with uniform length while the copper oxalate nanorods appear to be corrugated. Nickel oxalate dihydrate nanorods show an antiferromagnetic transition at T(N) = 34 K while the copper based nanorods show temperature independent paramagnetism.