TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The base is potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), and/or ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH). The nickel solution further comprises a nucleation agent, preferably palladium chloride (PdCl2), silver nitrate (AgNO3) or dipotassium tetrachloroplatinate (K2PtCl4). Preferred Composition: The nickel solution comprises 0.1-3 (preferably 0.5-1.5) M nickel compound. The mole ratio of reducing agent to nickel (Ni) ions is 2:1-7:1. The mole ratio of hydroxyl (OH) ions to Ni ions is 1:1-2.5:1 (preferably 1.5:1-2:1). The mole ratio of hydrazine to Ni ions is 2:1-6:1. The mole ratio of nucleation agent to nickel is 1:10000-1:100 (preferably 1:2000-1:100). Preferred Property: The average particle size does not exceed 70 nm. Preferred Condition: The temperature is 60-90 degrees C.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The surfactant or dispersant may be sodium dodecyl sulfate, stearic acid, ethoxylated ether, ethoxylated alkyl phenol, ethoxylated aryl phenol, or ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid ester. The nickel solution further comprises an alcohol having greater than or equal to 1 OH group, preferably methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, and/or propylene glycol.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The surfactant or dispersant may be polyacrylamide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, sodium polyacrylate, polyethylene glycol, polyethyleneimine, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, gum arabic, or polyoxyethylene alcohol of formula CmH2m+1(OCH2CH2)nOH.m=8-18; andn=10-100. EXAMPLE - A reduction solution (34 mL) was prepared by dissolving 85% potassium hydroxide (10.03 g) into 98% hydrazine monohydrate (24.51 g) and stirring for 20 minutes. A nickel salt solution was prepared by dissolving 98% nickel acetate tetrahydrate (20.32 g) and 50% polyacrylamide solution (0.94 g) into a mixed solvent (66 mL) of ethanol and water at a volume ratio of 30:70 and stirring for 20 minutes. The final reaction mixture (100 mL) was obtained by adding the reduction solution quickly into the nickel salt solution. The solution turned to black, indicating formation of nickel nanoparticles. Nickel nanoparticles were subsequently filtered out and worked up. The average nickel particle size was 92 nm as measured by transmission electron microscopy.