Effects of flaky rare earth oxide additives on the high temperature performance of nickel electrodes

Effects of flaky rare earth oxide additives including Er2O3,Tm2O3,and Yb2O3,Lu2O3 on high temperature and high rate discharge performance of nickel electrodes were investigated.The discharge efficiency at 0.2C reached 96% at 60 oC for electrodes with 1 at.% flaky rare earth oxides.The high rate discharge performance for electrodes with flaky rare earth oxides were improved significantly,for example,discharge efficiency at 5C improved from 50% to 70%.The results showed that the end charging potential of the ...

Plastic supported platinum modified nickel electrode and its high electrocatalytic activity for sodium borohydride electrooxidation

A novel plastic/multi-walled carbon nanotube（MWNTs）-nickel（Ni）-platinum（Pt） electrode（PMNP） is prepared by chemical-reducing Pt onto the surface of Ni film covered plastic/MWNTs（PM） substrate. The MWNTs are adhered by a piece of commercial double faced adhesive tape on the surface of plastic paper and the Ni film is prepared by a simple electrodeposition method. The morphology and phase structure of the PMNP electrode are characterized by scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The catalytic activity of the PMNP electrode for Na BH4 electrooxidation is investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The catalyst combines tightly with the plastic paper and exhibits a good stability. MWNTs serve as both conductive material and hydrogen storage material and the Ni film and Pt are employed as electrochemical catalysts. The PMNP electrode exhibits a high electrocatalytic performance and the oxidation current density reaches to 10.76 A/（mg·cm） in 0.1 mol/dm3 Na BH4at0 V,which is much higher than those in the previous reports. The using of waste plastic reduces the discarding of white pollution and consumption of metal resources.

Kinetic Model of Hypophosphite Oxidation on a Nickel Electrode in D_2O Solution

Kinetic model of hypophosphite oxidation on a nickel electrode was studied in D2O solution in order to reach a better understanding of the oxidation mechanism. In the model;he electrooxidation of hypophosphite undergo a H abstraction of hypophosphite from the P-H bond to form the phosphorus-centered radical (PWO2-)-P-., which subsequently is electrochemically reacted with water to form the final product, phosphite. The kinetic equations were derived, and the kinetic parameters were obtained from a comparison of experimental results and the kinetic equations. The process of hypophosphite electrooxidation could be well simulated by this model.

Electroless Co-Zn Surface-Modified Nickel Hydroxide as an Active Material for Pasted Nickel Electrodes

Chemically precipitated β type nickel hydroxide powder was surface modified by electroless deposition of Co Zn coatings,and physical properties of both the modified and unmodified nickel hydroxide were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), specific surface area (BET), X ray diffraction (XRD) and X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It has been found that Co and Zn components of the surface electroless coatings exist in the oxidized state. Electrochemical performances of pasted nickel electrodes using the modified nickel hydroxide as an active material were investigated, and compared with those of the electrodes prepared with the unmodified nickel hydroxide. Charge/discharge tests show that the modified nickel hydroxide electrodes exhibit better performances in the charge efficiency, specific discharge capacity and active material utilization. Their resistance to swelling with cycling is also superior to that of the unmodified nickel hydroxide electrodes. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) studies indicate that the modified electrodes have a higher electrochemical activity, and the porous pasted nickel electrodes have some distinguished CV characteristics in comparison with those of the thin film nickel electrodes.

Influence of TiO_2 on the electrochemical performance of pasted typeβ-nickel hydroxide electrode in alkaline electrolyte

Nickel hydroxide was used as the positive electrode material in rechargeable alkaline batteries, which plays a significant role in the field of electric energy storage devices. β-nickel hydroxide（β-Ni（OH）2 ） was prepared from nickel sulphate solution using potassium hydroxide as a precipitating agent. Pure β-phase of nickel hydroxide was confirmed from XRD and FT-IR studies. The effects of TiO2 additive on the β-Ni（OH）2 electrode performance are examined. The structure and property of the TiO2 added β-Ni（OH）2 were characterized by XRD, TG-DTA and SEM analysis. A pasted–type electrode is prepared using nickel hydroxide powder as the main active material on a nickel sheet as a current collector. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies were performed to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the β-Ni（OH）2 and TiO2 added β-Ni（OH）2 electrodes in 6 M KOH electrolyte. Anodic（Epa） and cathodic（Epc）peak potentials are found to decrease after the addition of TiO 2 into β-Ni（OH）2 electrode material. Further,addition of TiO2 is found to enhance the reversibility of the electrode reaction and also increase the separation of the oxidation current peak of the active material from the oxygen evolution current. Compared with pure β-Ni（OH）2 lectrode,TiO2 added β-Ni（OH）2 electrode is found to exhibit higher proton diffusion coefficient（D） and lower charge transfer resistance. These findings suggest that the TiO2 added β-Ni（OH）2 electrode possess improved electrochemical properties and thus can be recognized as a promising candidate for the battery electrode applications.

Selective Heating of Transition Metal Usings Hydrogen Plasma and Its Application to Formation of Nickel Silicide Electrodes for Silicon Ultralarge-Scale Integration Devices

We developed an apparatus for producing high-density hydrogen plasma. The atomic hydrogen density was 3.1 × 1021 m?3 at a pressure of 30 Pa, a microwave power of 1000 W, and a hydrogen gas flow rate of 10 sccm. We confirmed that the temperatures of transition-metal films increased to above 800。C within 5 s when they were exposed to hydrogen plasma formed using the apparatus. We applied this phenomenon to the selective heat treatment of nickel films deposited on silicon wafers and formed nickel silicide electrodes. We found that this heat phenomenon automatically stopped after the nickel slicidation reaction finished. To utilize this method, we can perform the nickel silicidation process without heating the other areas such as channel regions and improve the reliability of silicon ultralarge-scale integration devices.

Synergistic effect of cobalt and copper on a nickel-based modified graphite electrode during methanol electro-oxidation in NaOH solution

The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol was studied over Ni, Co and Cu binary or ternary alloys on graphite electrodes in a NaOH solution （0.1 mol/L）. The catalysts were prepared by cycling the graphite electrode in solutions containing Ni, Cu and Co ions at cathodic potentials. The synergistic effects and catalytic activity of the modified electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry （CV）, chronoamperometry CCA） and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS）. It was found that, in the presence of methanol, the modified Ni-based ternary alloy electrode （G/NiCuCo） exhibited a significantly higher response for methanol oxidation compared to the other samples. The anodic peak currents showed a linear dependency on the square root of the scan rate, which is a characteristic of a diffusion controlled process. During CA studies, the reaction exhibited Cottrellin behavior and the diffusion coefficient of methanol was determined to be 6.25× 10-6 cm2/s and the catalytic rate constant, K, for methanol oxidation was found to be 40×107 cm3/Cmol.s）. EIS was used to investigate the catalytic oxidation of methanol on the surface of the modified electrode.

A STUDY ON Ti ELECTRODE MODIFIED BY NICKEL ION BEANS

The reduction of H^+ on Ti electrodes which were treated by implanting nickel ions and thermodiffusing in vacuum has been studied.The calytic activity of the afore- mentioned electroes for H^+ reduction is much higher than that of the untreated Ti electrodes.

Electrolysis of ammonia for hydrogen production catalyzed by Pt and Pt-Ir deposited on nickel foam

Electrolysis of ammonia in alkaline electrolyte solution was applied for the production of hydrogen. Both Pt-loaded Ni foam and Pt-Ir loaded Ni foam electrodes were prepared by electrodeposition and served as anode and cathode in ammonia electrolytic cell, respectively. The electrochemical behaviors of ammonia in KOH solution were individually investigated via cyclic voltammetry on three electrodes, i.e. bare Ni foam electrode, Pt-loaded Ni foam electrode and Pt-Ir loaded Ni foam electrode. The morphology and composition of the prepared Ni foam electrode were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD). Effects of the concentration of electrolyte solution and temperature of electrolytic cell on the electrolysis reaction were examined in order to enhance the efficiency of ammonia electrolysis. The competition of ammonia electrolysis and water electrolysis in the same alkaline solution was firstly proposed to explain the changes of cell voltage with the electrolysis proceeding. At varying current densities, different cell voltages could be obtained from galvanostatic curves.The low cell voltage of 0.58 V, which is less than the practical electrolysis voltage of water(1.6 V), can be obtained at a current density of2.5 mA/cm2. Based on some experimental parameters, such as the applied current, the resulting cell voltage and output of hydrogen gas, the power consumption per gram of H2produced can be estimated.

A critical review on nickel-based cathodes in rechargeable batteries

The 3d transition-metal nickel(Ni)-based cathodes have long been widely used in rechargeable batteries for over 100 years,from Ni-based alkaline rechargeable batteries,such as nickel-cadmium(Ni-Cd)and nickel-metal hydride(Ni-MH)batteries,to the Ni-rich cathode featured in lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).Ni-based alkaline batteries were first invented in the 1900s,and the well-developed Ni-MH batteries were used on a large scale in Toyota Prius vehicles in the mid-1990s.Around the same time,however,Sony Corporation commercialized the first LIBs in camcorders.After temporally fading as LiCoO_(2) dominated the cathode in LIBs,nickel oxide-based cathodes eventually found their way back to the mainstreaming battery industry.The uniqueness of Ni in batteries is that it helps to deliver high energy density and great storage capacity at a low cost.This review mainly provides a comprehensive overview of the key role of Ni-based cathodes in rechargeable batteries.After presenting the physical and chemical properties of the 3d transition-metal Ni,which make it an optimal cationic redox center in the cathode of batteries,we introduce the structure,reaction mechanism,and modification of nickel hydroxide electrode in Ni-Cd and Ni-MH rechargeable batteries.We then move on to the Ni-based layered oxide cathode in LIBs,with a focus on the structure,issues,and challenges of layered oxides,LiNiO_(2),and LiNi_(1−x−y)Co_(x)Mn_(y)O_(2).The role of Ni in the electrochemical performance and thermal stability of the Ni-rich cathode is highlighted.By bridging the“old”Ni-based batteries and the“modern”Ni-rich cathode in the LIBs,this review is committed to providing insights into the Ni-based electrochemistry and material design,which have been under research and development for over 100 years.This overview would shed new light on the development of advanced Ni-containing batteries with high energy density and long cycle life.

Nanosized Nickel Oxides Derived from the Citrate Gel Process and Performances for Electrochemical Capacitors

Nanosized nickel oxide powders were prepared by thermal decomposition of the nickel citrate gel precursors. The thermal decomposition and powder materials derived from calcination of these gel precursors with various ratios of citric acid （CA） to nickel at different temperatures and times were characterized by thermal analysis （TG/DTA）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, x-ray diffraction （XRD）, and measurement of specific surface area （BET） with porosity analyses. The optimized processing conditions of calcination temperature 400℃ for 1 hour with the CA/Ni ratio of 1.2, were determined to produce the nanosized nickel oxide pow- ders with a high specific surface area of 181 m^2/g, nanometer particle sizes of 15-25 nm, micro-pore diameter distribution between 4-10 nm. The capacitance characteristics of the nanosized nickel oxide electrode in various concentrations of KOH solutions were studied by the cyclic voltammetry （CV） exhibiting both a double-layer capacitance and a faradaic pseudocapacitance. The nanosized nickel oxide electrode shows a high cyclic stability and is promising for high performance electrochemical capacitors.

Electrocatalytic behaviour of Ni and NiCu alloy modified glassy carbon electrode in electro-oxidation of contraflam

The electrocatalytic oxidation of contraflam was investigated in alkaline solution on nickel and nickel–copper alloy modified glassy carbon electrodes(GC/Ni and GC/NiCu). We prepared these electrodes by galvanostatic deposition and the surface morphologies and compositions of electrodes were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray(EDX) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric methods were employed to characterize the oxidation process and its kinetics. Voltammetric studies exhibit one pair of well-defined redox peaks, which is ascribed to the redox process of the nickel and followed by the greatly enhanced current response of the anodic peak in the presence of contraflam and a decrease in the corresponding cathodic current peak. This indicates that the immobilized redox mediator on the electrode surface was oxidized contraflam via an electrocatalytic mechanism. The catalytic currents increased linearly with the concentration of contraflam in the range of 0.25– 1.5 mmol/L. The anodic peak currents were linearly proportional to the square root of scan rate. This behaviour is the characteristic of a diffusion-controlled process. The determination of contraflam in capsules is applied satisfactorily by modified electrode.

High-performance (K,Na)NbO_(3)-based multilayer piezoelectric ceramic actuators with nickel inner electrodes

Multilayer ceramic actuator(MLCA)has been widely employed in actuators due to the large cumulative displacement under the low driving voltage.In this work,the MLCA devices consisting of a lead-free MnCO_(3-)and CuO-doped 0.96(K_(0.48)Na_(0.52))(Nb_(0.96)Ta_(0.04))O_(3)-0.04CaZrO_(3) piezoelectric ceramics and a base nickel(Ni)metal inner electrode were well co-fired by the two-step sintering process in a reducing atmosphere.The ceramic layer/electrode interface is well-integrated and clearly continuous without distinct interdiffusion and chemical reaction,which is beneficial to the electrical reliability of the MLCA.As a result,the MLCA laminated with nine active ceramic layers obtains an ultrahigh piezoelectric coefficient d_(33) of 3157 pC/N,about 9 times than bulk ceramics.The 0.5 mm-thick MLCA composed of a series of~50μm-thick ceramic layers and~3μm-thick Ni electrodes reaches a high 1.8μm displacement under the low applied voltage of 200 V(the same displacement requires a voltage as high as 3700 V for~1 mm-thick bulk ceramics).The excellent electrical performance and low-cost base electrode reveal that the(K,Na)NbO_(3)(KNN)-based MLCAs are promising lead-free candidate for actuator application.

Preparation and mechanical properties of two nickel base alloy coatings achieved by electrospark deposition

Ni398 and Ni818 base alloy coatings were deposited on 1045 steel by electrospark deposition technique （ESD）. Forming properties, thickness, microhardness and wear resistance of the coatings were investigated. The chemical composition and cross- section morphology were analyzed through energy dispersive spectrum （EDS） and metalloscope. The results show that the technological parameter window of Ni398 is larger than that of Ni818 electrode. However, other properties of the Ni818 coating, such as thickness and microhardness, were better than those of the Ni398 coating. Especially the wornout volume of Ni818 coating is only 1/6 of that for 1045 steel and 1/3 for Ni398 coating. Chemical composition analysis indicated that the addition of Mo promoted grain refinement of nickel alloy. Metallographic analysis shows that the molten droplets of Ni398 coatings have an average structure thickness of 20-40 #m while the microstructure of Ni818 coatings is flat with width of 5-20 #m.