Composite Nickel Research Articles

Metal-organic framework-derived nanoflower and nanoflake metal oxides as electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation.

The energy crisis is the most urgent issue facing contemporary society and needs to be given top priority. As energy consumption rises, environmental pollution is becoming a serious issue. Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have emerged as the most promising energy source for a variety of applications such as electric vehicles and portable devices. Unfortunately, the kinetics of methanol oxidation is slow and needs an electrocatalyst to improve the reaction kinetics and the overall fuel cell efficiency. Herein, a straightforward hydrothermal procedure was utilized to prepare copper, nickel, and cobalt-based MOF composites by altering the elemental molar ratios. Cu-MOF (MOFP1), Cu/Ni-MOF (MOFP2), and Cu/Ni/Co-MOF (MOFP3) were prepared after carbonization and characterized using several key techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX. The SEM analysis reveals that the morphology of MOFP1 is spherical aggregated particles, while that of MOFP2 or MOFP3 is in the form of nanoflakes and nanoflowers. Moreover, upon application of these composites as electrocatalysts for methanol electro-oxidation in an alkaline medium of 1 M NaOH using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) tests, the electrochemical performance of MOFP2 in 1 M methanol exhibits the best performance for methanol oxidation with a current density reaching 38.77 mA cm-2 at a scan rate of 60 mV s-1. This can be attributed to the unique porous open flower structure and the synergistic effect between copper, nickel, and 2-aminoterephthalic acid which develop its catalytic activity.

Flexible supercapacitors based on in-situ synthesis of composite nickel manganite@reduced graphene oxide nanosheets cathode: An integration of high mechanical flexibility and energy storage

Supercapacitors have attracted considerable attention in the context of electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and industrial equipment. Nevertheless, further work is required to enhance the energy storage performance and improve the adaptability of supercapacitors under mechanical loads. To address these challenges, we propose a novel design strategy for composite micro-nano structures of reduced graphene oxide coated in situ growth of nickel manganite nanoarrays on the carbon fiber surface (CF@NiMn2O4@rGO). This design enables the fabrication of flexible supercapacitor electrodes with optimised electrochemical and mechanical properties. The CF@NiMn2O4@rGO cathode exhibits a synergistic effect that enhances energy storage, as evidenced by a high specific capacitance of 1003.35 F g−1 (at 10 mA cm−2) and exceptional cycling stability over more than 4000 cycles. Furthermore, the flexible carbon fiber (CF) and in-situ grown nickel manganite@reduced graphene oxide (NiMn2O4@rGO) contribute to improved mechanical properties of the electrode. The assembled supercapacitor exhibits both high energy density and cycling stability. Notably, the flexible bending angle ranging from 0° to 180° has minimal impact on the energy storage performance of this flexible supercapacitor. Even under a bending angle of 180°, it successfully powers a small light bulb. This novel nanostructured material presents an innovative approach for designing flexible supercapacitors.

Creation of a nickel composite using surface structuring of the reinforcing phase with titanium carbide nanostructures to improve strength properties

Abstract The development of metal matrix composite (MMC) materials is one of the demanded areas of research in materials science. In line with this trend, there is an increasing interest in nickel-based MMC materials, which have already become classic in science and technology. This is due to the high demand for Ni-based materials with high strength characteristics, high hardness, and increased heat resistance. In this research, we proposed an approach to obtain a MMC material using the surface structuring process, ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) and powder metallurgy method. The developed approach provides a composite with TiC nanostructures (1-5 nm) uniformly distributed throughout the Ni matrix. The absence of interphase boundaries between the Ni matrix particles and carbide nanostructures made it possible to minimize the internal porosity of the sample. This is due to the strength of the interphase boundaries between the matrix and the reinforcing phase in the composite and to the solidity of the structure. As a result, the created material effectively resists plastic deformation and stress. This allows not only to enhance the strength properties of the composite, but also to maintain the MMC plasticity, which increases its processing ability.

Fabrication of Ni–ZrO2 nanocomposites through a new electroforming bath and Assessment of their morphology, wear, and corrosion resistance

Nowadays, researchers are looking for ways to produce complex tools and pieces with high precision at a low cost. In recent decades, electroforming has been an important and stable technique for producing composite parts. In this research, Ni–ZrO2 nanocomposite foils were fabricated by using a nickel-chloride bath through electroforming, a bath not previously utilized for this purpose. In this study, the effects of ZrO2 concentration and direct current density on the volume percentage of ZrO2 nanoparticles and the grain size of the nickel matrix of foils are also investigated. The sample with 13.65 vol % nanoparticles had the highest volume percentage and the minimum nickel grain size of 516.9 nm, which is almost 46 % smaller than the grain size of pure nickel foil. The wear and corrosion behavior of the foils were examined using a pin-on-disk wear test, potentiodynamic polarization, and impedance spectroscopy analysis. The results showed considerable improvement in the wear and corrosion resistance of the Ni–ZrO2 samples compared to the pure electroformed nickel. The nanocomposites exhibit a lower friction coefficient than pure nickel, with a maximum reduction of 44 %. A composite specimen of Ni–ZrO2 had 2.5 % lower corrosion density and 596 % higher charge transfer resistance compared to pure nickel. It was concluded that the nickel-chloride bath has an excellent potential to produce composite nickel foils with acceptable brightness, satisfactory wear, and corrosion resistance.

Nickel and Molybdenum Composites Decorated Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Catalysts from Spent Coffee Grounds for Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution.

Biomass-derived materials can help develop efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective catalysts, thereby improving the sustainability of hydrogen production. Herein, we propose a simple method to produce nickel and molybdenum composites decorated spent coffee grounds (SCG) as an efficient catalyst, SCG(200)@NiMo, for electrocatalytic hydrogen production. The porous carbon supporter derived form SCG provided a larger surface, prevented aggregation during the high temperature pyrolysis, optimized the electronic structure by N and provided a reducing atmosphere for the oxides reduction to form heterojunctions. The sieved SCG showed obvious improvement of HER performance and enhanced conductivity and long-term durability. The obtained SCG(200)@NiMo exhibits the highest electrochemical performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction process, as evidenced by the overpotential of only 127 mV at a current density of ɳ10 and 97.7 % catalytic activity retention even after 12 h of operation. This work may stimulate further exploration of efficient electrocatalysts derived from biomass.

Microstructural study of the composite nickel based, containing different Al amounts, sintered by an unconventional technique and forged

Microstructural study of the composite nickel based, containing different Al amounts, sintered by an unconventional technique and forged

Handy preparation of a carbon-Ni/NiO/Ni(OH)2 composite and its application in high-performance supercapacitors

The growing demand for energy storage is required with the development of the intermittent renewable energy. Supercapacitors are a promising energy storage equipment, but their capacitive performance mainly depend on the electrode material. To obtain a high-performance electrode material for supercapacitors, in this work, a carbon-Ni/NiO/Ni(OH)2 composite was prepared from pine sawdust as the carbon precursor by integrating CO2 gasification and electrochemical deposition. It is found that the carbon-ternary nickel composite shows good electrochemical performance due to synergistic effect of the unique hierarchical structure and components involving porous carbon skeleton, Ni0 and NiO nanoparticles, and Ni(OH)2 microspheres. The composite displays the specific capacitance of 1875.6 F/g (or 937.8 C/g) at a current density of 1 A/g in a traditional three-electrode system. The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor device presents a potential window of 1.6 V, along with the energy density of 38.24 Wh/kg at the power density of 400 W/kg (or 22.60 Wh/kg at 2000 W/kg). After 6000 charge-discharge cycles, the capacitance retention ratio of the assembled supercapacitor reaches up to 105 %, exhibiting a good application potential. This work provides a novel and handy strategy for preparation of ternary nickel-based composite for advanced supercapacitors.

Highly dispersed nickel-tuned silica lanthana catalyst: Interplay of morphology and textural properties for hydrogen-rich syngas through the carbon dioxide reforming of methane

Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are major contributors to the rise in greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating global warming. Consequently, it is crucial to convert and utilize these gases effectively to mitigate their impact on the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (dry) reforming of methane (DRM) offers an efficient solution for converting CH4 and CO2 into syngas (H2/CO). In this study, we compare the effectiveness of a robust catalytic system, including a fibrous silica lanthana-supported nickel (NSLF-10) catalyst, to a silica lanthana-supported nickel composite (NSL-C) developed using commercial lanthana and silica. Our investigation focuses on their respective performances in the production of hydrogen-rich syngas through DRM. The NSLF-10 catalyst exhibited improved physicochemical properties such as uniformly dispersed nickel, stronger metal-support interaction, small nickel particle size, and increased surface area, which significantly enhanced the catalytic performance of DRM. Notably, the NSLF-10 catalyst achieved a high conversion of CH4 and CO2 at 85 % and 83 %, respectively, with an elevated H2/CO ratio compared to the NSL-C catalyst, which has a conversion of CH4 and CO2 at 72 % and 64 %, respectively. The unique properties of the NSLF-10 catalyst provide a high synergistic effect between the nickel active sites and SLF support, leading to a high conversion of CH4 and CO2 with no signs of catalytic deactivation.

Stress-corrosion cracking sensitization by hydrogen upon oxidation of nickel-base alloys by water – An experiment-guided first-principles study

This work describes a viable hydrogen-induced sensitisation process toward stress corrosion cracking in chromia-forming nickel base alloys owing to oxidation by water. A mechanistic chemical understanding of the stress corrosion based on repeated cracking and re-healing of the oxide scale emerges from experiment-guided first-principles calculations. Piggybacking processes during repeated oxide scale cracking-healing cycles are understood to cause sensitisation towards the formation and growth of macroscopic cracks. Under light-water reactor conditions, the healed oxide scale comprises an outer region composed of chromium depleted nickel ferrite, and non-protective chromia, nickel oxide, and nickel hydroxide. An inner nickel iron chromite layer provides the passivating barrier that controls the oxidation rate at a steady state. Early during the re-healing of a crack in the oxide scale, water is conveyed to the alloy/scale interface by hydration/dehydration of composite nickel oxy-hydroxide Ni(OH)2∙NiO inclusions in the scale. At later stages, Ni(OH)2∙NiO serves as oxidant of preferentially chromium, while hydrogen is released as H2(g) into the primary water or becomes picked up by the alloy, possibly while assisting in the reduction of NiO to form nickel metal particles. Oxidation by water equivalents at the confining alloy/oxide scale interface favours hydrogen pick-up in the alloy that becomes increasingly detrimental owing to enrichment and inward diffusion of hydrogen along alloy grain boundaries. The pinning of alloy vacancies by hydrogen causes mitigation of outward diffusion of chromium, which in turn hampers crack re-healing while promoting alloy embrittlement.

Exploring the potential of nickel-chloride bath for electroforming of pure nickel and nickel composites

Electroforming is becoming increasingly important as a reliable method for the production and replication of independent parts. Researchers are continually striving to reduce production costs for the fabrication of complex tools with the highest precision and lowest cost, and electroforming is a key technique for achieving this goal. The present research aimed to produce pure nickel foils via electroforming using a simple and inexpensive nickel-chloride bath, which has not been previously utilized for electroforming. The effects of saccharin concentration, nickel-chloride concentration, direct current density, and the use of graphite as an insoluble anode were investigated. The surface morphology of the electroformed products was characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their chemical composition was analyzed using energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. The microhardness of the foils was determined using the Vickers hardness test. Results showed that specimens produced using the nickel-chloride bath had a good surface appearance with acceptable brightness and satisfactory microhardness. Ten electroforming tests were conducted to determine the optimal bath components, pH, and direct current density for the fabrication of pure nickel products. It was found that these parameters had a significant influence on the quality of the appearance and surface morphology of the foils. In addition, using a graphite anode was seen to reduce the cathode current efficiency as compared to a soluble nickel anode and was affected by the preferred orientation of nickel crystal plates. It can be concluded that the nickel-chloride bath has excellent potential for the production of pure nickel products using the electroforming method.

A new heterojunction nickel aluminate/cerium oxide for the photocatalytic degradation of coloured organic pollutants

For the current investigation, three different ratios (70:30, 50:50 and 30:70) of NiAl2O4/CeO2 nanocomposite were synthesized by hydrothermal method (in-situ). NiAl2O4 and CeO2 were synthesized by the sol-gel method and co-precipitation method respectively. The synthesized compounds were characterized by different characterization techniques like Powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) for phase formation, Ultraviolet–Visible Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS) for band gap energy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for the functional groups. The surface area and morphology of the compounds were measured. The band-gap energy for Nickel aluminate (NA), CeO2 and composites with ratios 70:30, 50:50 and 30:70 was found to be 3.08, 2.85, 2.77, 2.90 and 2.70 eV respectively. The nanocomposite was tested for its efficiency towards the photo-catalytic degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB). 10 mg of the catalyst degraded about 99 % of MB and 98 % of RhB in 150 min.

Pyrazolyl-pyrimidine porous-organic-polymer supported single-site nickel composites as efficient catalysts for the synthesis of substituted pyrimidines

Pyrazolyl-pyrimidine porous-organic-polymer supported single-site nickel composites as efficient catalysts for the synthesis of substituted pyrimidines

Spark plasma sintering of ceramic-reinforced binary/ternary nickel and titanium metal matrix composites: Mechanical properties, microstructure, and densification – A review

Spark Plasma sintering is an excellent technique for developing ceramic-reinforced binary/ternary nickel and titanium metal matrix composites (MMCs). This review analyzes the mechanical properties, microstructure, and densification characteristics of SPS-produced composites. Introducing ceramic reinforcement such as carbides, oxides, nitrides, or borides enhances the mechanical characteristics and functionality of MMCs. The SPS method has advantages such as high heating rates, low processing durations, and relatively low sintering temperatures, all of which assist in reducing reactivity concerns and retaining the desirable properties of the matrix and reinforcing materials. The impact of different process parameters such as temperature, pressure, heating rate, and holding time on the final microstructure and densification of the composites was discussed in this review. Additionally, it examined how different types, contents, and particle sizes of reinforcement affected the mechanical qualities, including hardness, tensile strength, fracture toughness, and wear resistance. Furthermore, the production of secondary phases and the interfacial bonding between the matrix and reinforcements are explored because they significantly affect the mechanical performance and behavior of the composites. This work contributes to an extensive understanding of the SPS procedure for ceramic-reinforced nickel and titanium MMCs, offering insightful information on processing parameters that enhance production and modify the characteristics of these technologically advanced materials for many applications in the aerospace, automotive, and structural industries.

Metallographic preparation of a composite of meteorite iron, steel, pure iron, and nickel manufactured by the Damascus technique

Abstract A composite material was subjected to metallographic examination. It was manufactured by forging together different ferrous materials and nickel. This technique ranks among the Damascus techniques and is also used to manufacture so-called “krises”. A kris is a traditional dagger from Southeast Asia, particularly from Indonesia and Malaysia, manufactured by processing different iron and nickel alloys or meteorite iron containing nickel. As is typical for Damascus materials, widely varied patterns are obtained on the blades which may have different shapes. To manufacture a kris blade, sheets made of pure iron, C10 steel, meteorite iron, and nickel were forge-welded in preliminary tests. Samples were taken and subjected to metallographic examinations. Different layers can be recognized after polishing. Etchants typically used for steels (Nital, Klemm) cannot be used to reveal the nickel microstructure. The nickel grain boundaries can be revealed by ion etching. To improve the different ferrous material microstructures’ contrast, an additional heat tinting process was performed. The metallographic examination reveals that forge welding created a homogeneous joint between the individual layers.

Nickel metal matrix composites reinforced with solid lubricants: A comprehensive review

Nickel metal matrix composites are suitable for aerospace and military applications due to their superior mechanical and tribological properties. The incorporation of reinforcing components in the nickel metal matrix composites significantly improves the specific strength, microhardness, wear resistance, frictional behavior, creep, and fatigue characteristics, as well as provides exceptional surface quality in comparison to typical engineering materials. The current study attempted to explore a review on nickel composites reinforced with various solid lubricants, along with their pros and cons. The study focuses on the issues like interfacial transition, agglomerating activity, and non-uniform particle dispersion. Several studies have been conducted to highlight the effect of solid lubricants on the microstructure, mechanical and tribological characteristics such as tensile strength, yield strength, ductility, hardness, friction, wear, and fatigue. In this review, the principal applications of various nickel matrix composites are also thoroughly examined.

Lewis metal salt synthesis of V2C (MXene) composite nickel diselenide as a high-performance cathode material for secondary aluminum batteries

Rechargeable aluminum batteries are promising energy storage devices that have advantages over lithium-ion batteries in terms of safety, cost, and capacity. Herein, a V2C (MXene) composite nickel diselenide (V2C@NiSe2) cathode is synthesized by etching V2AlC MAX phase via Lewis acidic molten salts and then calcining it with selenium. The V2C@NiSe2 cathode material exhibited reversible redox reactions of Ni2+/Nix+, and Se-/Sex+ in the charge–discharge process. Due to the fact that selenium can also replace functional groups on V2C, it can effectively avoid strong interactions between AlCl4- and V2C layers, thereby increasing their energy density. By using V2C@NiSe2 as the cathode material for aluminum batteries, the first cycle discharge specific capacity reached 486.8 mAh/g and remained at 166 mAh/g after about 3800 cycles at 1 A/g. To compare the performance of the V2C@NiSe2 cathode material, additional cathode materials (V2C@MnSe, V2C@FeSe, V2C@CuSe2, and V2C@CoSe) are created using a similar synthesis process. This work demonstrates a novel synthesis method of intercalation-type composite low-dimensional cathode materials for stable secondary aluminum batteries.

Synergetic effect of porous silicon–Nickel composite on its solid-state hydrogen energy storage properties

Hydrogen is a clean and carbon-free energy reliable carrier to fulfill the energy supply requirement for an energy-sustainable society. Among different hydrogen energy storage techniques, solid-state hydrogen storage demonstrates elevated bulk density and gravimetric capacity and addresses safety concerns. The work studies the synergetic effect of porous Silicon (PS) as the host storage material and Ni as the catalyst in the composite form. The PS fabricated by electrochemical anodization is ball-milled with Ni powder to prepare the composite. The composite shows an improved hydrogen storage capacity of 1.64 wt% at 40 bar and 120 °C. The capacity increases to 2.69 wt% with the increase in pressure to 60 bar at 60 °C, indicating the large active surface. The physical and chemical changes to the composite are analyzed using SEM, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy. The differential scanning calorimetry shows the catalytic effect of Ni by reducing the decomposition temperature of individual PS. The synergetic effect of PS and Ni produces a synergetic effect that leads to the dissociation of molecules, improves hydrogen storage capacity, and reduces the temperature required for desorption.

Study of Electrodeposition and Properties of Composite Nickel Coatings Modified with Ti3C2TX MXene

In this work we have synthesized Ti3C2TX MXene powder and studied its structure. Composite electrochemical coatings (CECs) of Ni-Ti3C2TX MXene were obtained from a sulfate– chloride bath in the galvanostatic regime. The microstructure of CEC was researched using X-ray phase analysis and scanning electron microscopy methods. It has been established that a Ni–Ti3C2TX MXene CEC microhardness rises by about 1.80 times compared with electrolytic Ni without a dispersed phase. For corrosion research, different corrosive media is applied. The corrosion–electrochemical behavior of Ni–Ti3C2TX MXene CECs by the chronovoltamperometry method in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution has been investigated. Trials in 3.5% NaCl have shown that Ti3C2TX MXene inclusion into the matrix of the electrochemical Ni results in a decrease in the corrosion rate by 1.60–1.75 times. These effects are due to the addition of Ti3C2TX MXene into the nickel matrix and the formation of CECs with a strengthening fine-grained structure.

Adsorptive Removal of Selenium(IV) from Aqueous Solution by Ferrous Hydroxide Complex-Zero Nickel Composites

ABSTRACT Nanoscale ferrous hydroxide complex-zero nickel composites (FHC/Ni0) were fabricated by ball milling method for Se(IV) adsorption from aqueous solution. The effects of pH, solid-liquid ratio, time, temperature, initial concentration of Se(IV) on the adsorption of Se(IV) by FHC/Ni0 were investigated. FHC/Ni0 was characterized by SEM, XPS, XRD, FT-IR, BET and Zeta potential, and the mechanism of removing Se(IV) was analyzed. The results showed that FHC/Ni0 had a good removal effect on Se(IV). When pH was 5.0, the solid-liquid ratio was 0.15 g L−1, the reaction time was 40 min, the maximum adsorption capacity of Se(IV) by FHC/Ni0 could reach 216 mg g−1. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir had a good fit for the Se(IV) adsorption process of FHC/Ni0, indicating that the monolayer and chemical adsorption played a leading role in the adsorption process. XPS analysis further confirmed that the adsorption of Se on FHC/Ni0 was mainly due to the formation of stable complexes with a large number of functional groups containing Fe, Ni and S, meanwhile, the removal of Se(IV) by the material is achieved through a combination of chemical adsorption and reduction reactions. The research results can demonstrate the feasibility of FHC/Ni0 in Se(IV) removal and provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of wastewater containing Se(IV).

Fabrication of pyrite-zero nickel composites for efficient removal of Se(IV) from aqueous solution

Abstract 79Se is one of the important radionuclides in the safety evaluation of high-level radioactive waste repository due to its long half-life and highly fissionable radioactivity. Nanoscale pyrite-zero nickel composites (FeS2/Ni0) were fabricated by ball milling method for selenium(IV) (Se(IV)) adsorption from aqueous solution. The effects of pH, solid-liquid ratio, time, temperature, initial concentration of Se(IV) on the adsorption of Se(IV) by FeS2/Ni0 were investigated. FeS2/Ni0 was characterized by SEM, XPS, XRD, FT-IR, BET and Zeta potential, and the mechanism of removing Se(IV) was analyzed. The results showed that FeS2/Ni0 had a good removal effect on Se(IV). When pH was 5.5, the solid-liquid ratio was 0.1 g L−1, the reaction time was 40 min, the maximum adsorption capacity of Se(IV) by FeS2/Ni0 could reach 259 mg g−1. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of wastewater containing Se(IV).