Non-isothermal reduction behavior of NiO in undiluted Ar and CH4 atmospheres

Abstract

The present study aims to understand non-isothermal reduction behavior of nanocrystalline NiO powder in undiluted CH4 and Ar atmospheres by thermal analysis, mass measurement and XRD techniques. Low Ni content observed in the oxide powder was attributed to the moisture and OH groups which were removed upon heating to 625K above which reduction of NiO to Ni took place in both atmospheres. Under Ar flow, the oxide powder was slightly reduced to Ni as temperature increased to 1300K. In CH4 atmosphere, the oxide reduction was followed by C deposition with increasing temperature. Complete reduction of NiO to Ni was attained at ~1000K owing to H2 formed by CH4 pyrolysis. It was observed that nickel particles were sintered into pellets with a size of ~2μm at 1100K under CH4 flow. At 1200 and 1300K, Ni had finer particles with sizes <200nm and gained mass in consequence of C deposition.