Highly stable nickel hexacyanoferrate nanotubes for electrically switched ion exchange

Nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) nanotubes are fabricated by an electrokinetic method based on the distinct surface properties of porous anodic alumina. By this method, nanotubes can be formed rapidly with the morphologies faithfully replicating the nanopores in the template. The prepared nanotubes were carefully characterized using SEM and TEM. Results from IR, UV, EDX, and electrochemical measurements show that the NiHCF nanotubes exist only in the form of K2Ni[Fe(CN)(6)]. Because of this single composition and unique nanostructure, NiHCF nanotubes show excellently stable cesium-selective ion-exchange ability. The capacity for electrodes modified with NiHCF nanotubes after 500 potential cycles retains 95.3 % of its initial value. Even after 1500 and 3000 cycles, the NiHCF nanotubes still retain 92.2 % and 82.9 %, respectively, of their ion-exchange capacity.