One-step potentiostatic electrodeposition of Ni–Se–Mo film on Ni foam for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

Exploring efficient, abundant, low-cost and stable materials for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is highly desired but still a challenging task. Herein, Ni–Se–Mo electrocatalysts supported on nickel foam (NF) substrate were synthesized by a facile one-step electrodeposition method. The Ni–Se–Mo film presents high electrocatalytic activity and stability toward HER, with a low overpotential of 101 mV to afford a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in 1.0 M KOH medium. Such excellent HER performance of Ni–Se–Mo film induced by the synergistic effects from Mo-doped Ni–Se film leads to the fast electron transfer. This work provides the validity of interface engineering strategy in preparing highly efficient transition metal chalcogenides based HER electrocatalysts.     

Effect of Ni loading on SBA-15 synthesized from palm oil fuel ash waste for hydrogen production via CH4 dry reforming

The successful synthesis of SBA-15 using silica source extracted from palm oil fuel ash (POFA) was proven with the presence of mesostructure characteristics as evidenced by low angle XRD, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms and TEM. Different amounts of Ni were loaded on the synthesized SBA-15(POFA) using the impregnation method at 80 °C. The influence of Ni loading over the Ni/SBA-15(POFA) physiochemical properties and CO₂ reforming of CH₄ (CRM) were investigated in a stainless steel fixed-bed reactor at 800 °C and atmospheric pressure with 1:1 CO₂:CH₄ volumetric feed composition. An increment in Ni loading on SBA-15(POFA) from 1 to 5 wt% decreased the BET surface area and crystallinity of catalyst as proven by N₂ adsorption–desorption and XRD analysis. The catalytic performance of CRM followed the sequence of 3 wt% > 5 wt% > 2 wt% > 1 wt% -Ni/SBA-15(POFA). This result was owing to the even distribution of Ni and good Ni–O–Si interaction of 3 wt% Ni/SBA-15(POFA) as proved by TEM, FTIR and XPS. Lowest H₂/CO ratio and catalyst activity and stability of 1 wt% Ni/SBA-15(POFA) were due to the weaker Ni–O–Si interaction and small amount of basic sites that favor the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction and carbon formation. The recent finding indicates that a quantity as small as 3 wt% Ni loaded onto SBA-15(POFA) could elicit outstanding catalytic performance in CRM, which was comparable with 10 wt% Ni loading catalysts reported in literature.     

Ni(OH)2与不同碳质材料复合制备超级电容器电极材料研究进展

超级电容器具有功率密度大、寿命长、生产成本低等优点,被认为是最有发展前途的储能系统之一。然而,超级电容器的低能量密度阻碍了其实际应用。由于存储的能量与CV2成正比,可以通过增加材料的电容"C"或操作电压窗口"V"或两者同时增加来提高超级电容器的能量密度。然而具有宽电位窗口的有机电解质离子往往电导率差,成本高,容易引起环境问题。因此为改善能量密度,应采用高比电容的电极材料,故而设计出具有高比电容的适合电极材料就成为研究热点。Ni(OH)2作为超级电容器电极材料,具有理论容量大、成本低、天然丰富、易于合成等优点,近年来备受关注。但由于Ni(OH)2导电率低、比表面积小,其容量劣化严重。碳质材料作为双电层超级电容器的电极材料,其能量存储机制取决于电极表面的电解质离子吸附和解离,具有导电率好、原料丰富、成本较低、电化学稳定性高等优点而应用广泛。因此,有必要将高导电碳质材料引入Ni(OH)2组成复合材料以提高电容性能。笔者综述了Ni(OH)2基材料的合成方法,特别是与碳质材料复合来提高Ni(OH)2基材料的循环稳定性和倍率性能方面的研究新进展。     

Preparation of Ni–P–La alloy as a novel electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

Ternary Ni–P–La alloy was synthesized by the co-electrodeposition method on the copper substrate. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used for characterization of the synthesized alloy. The electrochemical performance of the novel alloy was investigated based on electrochemical data obtained from steady-state polarization, Tafel curves, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in alkaline solution and at ambient temperature. The results showed that the microstructural properties play a vital purpose in determining the electrocatalytic activity of the novel alloys. Also, the HER on investigated alloys was performed via the Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism and Volmer step as RDS in this work. Ni–P–La catalyst was specified by ƞ₂₅₀ = −139.0 mV, b = −93.0 mV dec⁻¹, and j_o = −181.0 μA cm⁻². The results revealed that the Ni–P–La catalysts have a high potential for HER electrocatalysts in 1M NaOH solution.     

In-situ formation of Ni (oxy)hydroxide on Ni foam as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

A binder-free Ni (oxy)hydroxide on Ni foam was prepared through an in-situ electrochemical activation method. Ni (oxy)hydroxide is active for the oxygen evolution reaction. The Ni (oxy)hydroxide directly formed on the surface of Ni foam as a binder-free catalyst not only exhibited large electrochemically active area, but also displayed low interfacial electronic resistance and low charge transfer resistance. Therefore, the optimized Ni (oxy)hydroxide exhibits an overpotential of 288 and 370 mV at 10 and 500 mA cm⁻², respectively, in 1.0 M KOH for the oxygen evolution reaction, as well as favorable during 240 h at 100 mA cm⁻².     

Palladium nanoparticles supported by three-dimensional freestanding electrodes for high-performance methanol electro-oxidation

Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles (NPs) prepared by gas phase cluster deposition demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic activity. Herein, a series of Pd NPs modified freestanding electrodes with a super clean surface and easy repeating process for methanol oxidation reaction is reported. Pd NPs with different coverage were deposited on Ni foams and three-dimensional graphene-Ni foams, respectively. Owning to the special three-dimensional structure of Ni foam, the Pd NPs-Ni foam composite exhibited remarkable activity and unusually long-term stability for methanol electro-oxidation. The introduced three-dimensional graphene prepared by conventional chemical vapour deposition improved the electrocatalytic performance. The results can be attributed to the Pd NPs with high electrochemical activity and unique properties for three-dimensional supports.     

Nanoindentation and scratch behaviour of Ni–P electroless coatings

ABSTRACT

In the present paper, the mechanical properties and the scratch failure mechanisms of Ni–P electroless coatings are described. The material microstructure was studied in as-deposited and annealed conditions through SEM and EDS analyses. Nanoindentation measurements on the coatings showed a remarkable hardening due to the crystallization and precipitation behaviour produced by annealing. The scratch tests, conducted by increasing the load during scratch, revealed the coating failure mechanisms in a broad range of applied stresses up to delamination.     

Ni–Fe mixed oxides prepared by calcination of layered double hydroxides: Potential pigments for the ceramic industry

Mixed Ni,Fe oxides have been prepared by calcination of precursors with the hydrotalcite-type structure which had been prepared by the reverse micelle method using different surfactants. The solids have been characterized by several physicochemical techniques: Powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption at −196 °C for specific surface area assessment, particle size distribution, UV–vis spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction. The solids are formed by NiO and NiFe₂O₄ (spinel) and their properties depend on the experimental conditions used to prepare the hydrotalcite-type precursor. The crystallite size is larger for the spinel crystallites than for the NiO crystallites and in all cases depends on the surfactant used and the pH during the synthesis. The original, uncalcined samples, show intense mainly yellow color, but on calcination almost all of them change to dark brown or even almost black; only when using a cyclic surfactant the color is markedly different from that obtained when linear surfactants are used.