Abstract
Nickel is set to play a crucial role to substitute the less-abundant platinum in clean electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices and catalysis. The controlled design of Ni nanomaterials is essential to fine-tune their properties to match these applications. A systematic study of electrospinning and thermal post-treatment parameters has been performed to synthesize Ni materials and tune their morphology (fibers, ribbons, and sponge-like structures) and composition (metallic Ni, NiO, Ni/C, Ni3N and their combinations). The obtained Ni-based spun materials have been characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The possibility of upscaling and the versatility of electrospinning open the way to large-scale production of Ni nanostructures, as well as bi- and multi-metal systems for widened applications.
Highlights
Considering the low abundance of platinum, the research interest in common metals to replace it for electrochemical and catalytic reactions is renewed
Nickel and its compounds are employed as electrocatalysts, co-catalysts or catalyst supports in fuel cells operating in various conditions and temperatures, including solid oxide [8], proton exchange membrane [9,10,11,12], alkaline [13,14], and microbial fuel cells [15]
Of particular interest is the use of nickel nanowires as the starting point for the synthesis of core@shell nickel@platinum one-dimensional (1D) electrocatalysts, using a simple galvanic displacement reaction, which was able to surpass the U.S Department of Energy target of oxygen reduction mass activity for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) [9,18,19], which provided one source of motivation for this work
Summary
Considering the low abundance of platinum, the research interest in common metals to replace it for electrochemical and catalytic reactions is renewed. SSEEMM mmiiccrrooggrraapphhss aannddccoorrrreessppoonnddiinngghhisistotoggrraammssoof fsisziezeddisitsrtirbiubtuiotinonofoNf NiOiOeleecletrcotrsopsupnuinn itnhethseamsaemceoncdointidointisoanss9a(sa9,b()a, 1,b0)(,c1,d0)(,c1,1d)w, 1t 1%w(et,f%) p(oel,yf)vpinoyllypvyinrryollpidyorrnoeliadnodnneicaknedl anciecktaetleainceettahteaninol e(tah,ban) oaln(da,ibn)eatnhdaninole:dthimaneothl:ydlifmoremthaymlfiodrem(a7m:3ivdoel(.)7:(3g,vho)l..) (g,h) In this case, the presence of a higher boiling point solvent in the solution favoured formation of fibers, rather than ribbons (Figure 4). PVP and 9 wt % nickel nitrate in DMF/ethanol (1:1 wt ratio) have an average diameter of 151 nm (σ = 22 nm) In this case, it is evident that the nature of the solvent has a larger impact on the materials obtained than the concentration of the solution. A water-based solution led to the formation of fibers three times smaller than the DMF counterpart, despite the higher salt and polymer concentration. This phenomenon can be attributed to the different rheological properties of theleetcwtroosepleinctnrionsgpisnonluintgiosnosl.uTtihoensd.yTnhaemdiycnvaimsciocsvitiyscoofsitthyeowf tahteerw/eatthearn/oelthsaonluotlisoonluhtaiosnbheeans bfoeuenndfotuonbde tohibgehehrigthhearntthhaant uthsaint gusDinMgFD/eMthFa/neotlh(a0n.1o3l0(0P.1a3·s0vPsa. FFiigguurree1111..SSTTEEMMimimaaggeeoof fpplaltaitninuummononnincikceklenl annaonfiobfirberseasftaefrtetrhethgeaglvaalvnaicndicisdpilsapcleamceemnte(nat),(ao)v,eorvlaeyrloafy tohfetEhDe XEDmXapmsaopfsNoif (Nreid(r)eadn)daPntd(gPrte(egnre)e(bn)) a(bn)daonxdyogxeyngreendurecdtiuonctiroenacrteioanct(ioOnR(RO)RaRt 5) amt V5 /msVin/s0i.n1 0M.1 HMCHlOC4lsOa4tusaratuterdatweditwh iOth Oat24a0t04,0900,09,0106,0106,0205,0205R00PMRP(Mc).(c)
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