In-Situ Simultaneous Small Angle and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering of Nickel Carbide Nanoparticle Growth using Thermolysis of Nitrogen-containing and Nitrogen-free Nickel Salts in the Presence of Oleylamine

We have used simultaneous small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) to monitor the structural evolution of NiC nanocrystals as a function of precursor salt. The combination of these techniques has enabled us to follow the nucleation and growth of these nanocrystals, as well as the phase evolution. We find that the precursor salt affect not only the growth kinetics, but also the microstructural evolution. While both salts produce NiC nanocrystals, the kinetics of growth and phase evolution are markedly different.