STUDY OF MORPHOLOGY AND STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF METAL HYDROXIDES OF THE IRON TRIAD
Hydroxides of the iron triad represent an important class of inorganic materials whose functional behaviour isgoverned not only by composition but also by the structural pathway followed during phase formation. Inthepresent work, Fe(OH)3, Co(OH)2, and Ni(OH)2 were synthesised under identical precipitation conditions to providea direct and physically meaningful comparison of morphology and structural organisation. The materials wereexamined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The comparative analysisdemonstrates that each hydroxide develops a distinct structural scenario. Iron hydroxide forms highly dispersedamorphous aggregates characterised by a loose porous architecture, explaining its strong affinity toward adsorptionprocesses. Cobalt hydroxide evolves into thin plate-like units consistent with low-crystalline layered structures. Nickel hydroxide exhibits the highest structural ordering, forming nanosheet and flower-like assemblies associatedwith α/β-phase organisation. The obtained results reveal a clear relationship between cation chemistry, hydrolysiskinetics, and morphology development. The study provides a unified framework explaining howsynthesisparameters govern structural evolution within iron-triad hydroxides and offers practical guidance for designinginorganic materials with tailored properties for environmental, catalytic, and electrochemical technologies.
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