Hydrogenation of aniline to cyclohexylamine on NaOH-promoted or lanthana supported nickel

In the vapor phase, the selectivity of the title reaction could be increased to about 90% by promoting traditional type nickel catalysts with NaOH. The use of strongly basic lanthana as support resulted in 95–99% selectivity.     

Synthesis of magnetic nickel spinel ferrite nanospheres by a reverse emulsion-assisted hydrothermal process

Nickel ferrite nanospheres were successfully synthesized by a reverse emulsion-assisted hydrothermal method. The reverse emulsion was composed of water, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, polyoxyethylene(10)nonyl phenyl ether, iso-amyl alcohol and hexane. During the hydrothermal process, β-FeO(OH) and Ni_0.75Fe_0.25(CO₃)_0.125(OH)₂·0.38H₂O (INCHH) nanorods formed first and then transformed into nickel spinel ferrite nanospheres. The phase transformation mechanism is proposed based on the results of X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, etc. Nickel ferrite may form at the end of the INCHH nanorods or from the solution accompanied by the dissolution of β-FeO(OH) and INCHH nanorods. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows that a few Fe³⁺ ions have been reduced to Fe²⁺ ions during the formation of nickel ferrite. The maximum magnetization of the nickel ferrite nanospheres obtained after hydrothermal reaction for 30 h is 55.01 emu/g, which is close to that of bulk NiFe₂O₄.     

Unusual template condensation of benzophenone thiosemicarbazones and salicylaldehydes with nickel(II)

Reactions of 5-R-2-hydroxybenzophenone S-methylthiosemicarbazones (R: H, Br, Cl) and 2-hydroxy-benzaldehydes in the presence of NiCl₂ yielded template complexes by chelating with two of the ligands in the monoanionic form. The N₄O₂ complexes of the thiosemicarbazones show distorted-octahedral geometry around nickel(II). The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity and magnetic measurements, UV-Vis, IR, ¹H-NMR, and mass spectra. Crystal structure of bis-N¹-(2-hydroxy-5-bromo-phenyl)(phenyl)methylene-N⁴-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)methylene-S-methyl-thiosemicarbazidato-Ni(II) was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Promoter effect of nickel in thiophene hydrodesulfurization as monitored by sulfur uptake and cyclohexane conversion

Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity and activation energy (ε′_TH) values were determined and compared with irreversible sulfur uptake (S_irr) by 5 Al₂O₃-supported (MoO_x, Ni and three NiMoO_x) catalysts and, in unsulfided form with the cyclohexane conversion activity. Synergy between Ni and Mo in catalytic activity and a correlation between HDS activity and the amounts of S_irr was found. Some explanations for the differences in catalytic behavior of the different samples are presented.     

Nanocrystalline nickel cobalt hydroxides/ultrastable Y zeolite composite for electrochemical capacitors

A novel nanocomposite of Co(OH)₂−Ni(OH)₂ and ultrastable Y molecular sieves was synthesized by an improved chemical precipitation method for electrochemical capacitors. The Co(OH)₂−Ni(OH)₂/ultrastable Y zeolite (USY) composite and its microstructure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical characterization was performed by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements. The results show that Co(OH)₂−Ni(OH)₂/USY microstructure applied for the electrochemical energy storage has displayed superior capacitive performance. The effect of heat treatment conditions on specific capacitance properties was also systemically explored. Upon annealing at 250 °C, the maximum specific capacitance was up to 479 F/g (or 1,710 F/g after correcting for the weight percent of Co(OH)₂−Ni(OH)₂ phase). Annealing temperatures higher than 250 °C may cause the hydroxide to form oxide phase and decrease the surface activity of the oxide, thereby leading to a decline of the specific capacitance.     

CO2 reforming of methane over zirconia-supported nickel catalysts, I. Catalytic specificity

CO₂ reforming of methane is performed over zirconia-supported nickel catalysts. The catalysts show high activity toward CH₄ and CO₂ conversions. Over the high Ni loading catalyst, long-term performances without significant deactivations have been achieved at 1023 K for 30 h and 1123 K for 20 h, respectively. The effects of reduction and calcination temperatures on the catalytic activities are also examined.     

A novel titanium-supported nickel electrocatalyst for cyclohexanol oxidation in alkaline solutions

A novel titanium-supported nickel electrode (Ni/Ti) is fabricated by a simple hydrothermal process using hydrazine hydrate as a reduction agent. Its electrocatalytic activity towards cyclohexanol oxidation has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), quasi-steady state polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Effects of various parameters such as potential scan rate and cyclohexanol concentration on the electro-oxidation of cyclohexanol are investigated. Results show that the Ni/Ti electrode behaves as an efficient catalyst for the electro-oxidation of cyclohexanol in basic media and its electrocatalytic activity towards cyclohexanol oxidation is higher than a nickel oxyhydroxide modified nickel electrode (NOMN). It is confirmed that during the anodic potential sweep the electro-oxidation of cyclohexanol follows the formation of NiOOH on the electrode surface and is then catalysed by NiOOH. The rate-determining step for cyclohexanol oxidation is the reaction between the high oxidation state nickel (Ni³⁺) and the adsorbed cyclohexanol on the surface of the Ni/Ti.     

CO2 reforming of methane over zirconia-supported nickel catalysts, II. Thermogravimetric analysis

Thermogravimetric analysis has been used to study carbon deposition during the CO₂ reforming of methane over Ni/ZrO₂ catalysts. The carbon deposits form on the reduced catalyst at a very fast rate during temperature-programmed surface reaction of reforming, and reach a steady state below 973 K. So, the amount of deposited carbon remains constant on the catalyst during the reaction at 973 K. A relationship between the amount of deposited carbon and the activity reveals that the initially formed carbon acts as a reaction intermediate and reacts with CO₂ to produce CO.     

Thermal dehydration and decomposition of nickel chloride hydrate (NiCl2·xH2O)

The dehydration and decomposition characteristics of an undried and a partly dried sample of NiCl₂·xH₂O have been investigated by isothermal and non-isothermal (TG and DTA) methods in static air as well as flowing nitrogen environment. While the isothermal weight loss method fails to distinguish between different steps of reaction, TG curves upto 800°C reveal as many as five steps in static air and four steps in nitrogen atmosphere. However, both methods indicate that NiCl₂ is stable upto 400°C above which dehydrochlorination takes place in presence of water vapour. The intermediate products of dehydration and decomposition at different temperatures have been characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, infrared and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. All these methods reveal the presence of water in samples calcined at even 400°–600°C. Thermodynamic functions for different steps of dehydration have been calculated and discussed in the light of the possible structural changes occurring in the partially dehydrated products.The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to Mr. D. N. Dey, Head, Pyrometallurgy Division for his keen interest and constant support during the course of investigation. Thanks are also due to Director, Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar for his kind permission to publish this paper. One of the authors (S. K. M.) is thankful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi for awarding a Junior Research Fellowship.     

Coordination mode and reactivity of nickel(II) with vitamin B6

This contribution presents a selection of results obtained using spectrophotometric and potentiometric titrations. For several reasons, the investigated equilibria present particular challenges to traditional analysis techniques. Equilibrium constants and UV–vis absorption spectra for different ligands in the complexation process of Ni(II) with pyridoxamine (pm), pyridoxal (pl) and pyridoxine are reported. The gradual and cumulative stability constants occurring in aqueous solution are presented for all complexes studied. Additionally, crystal-field parameters were calculated for two nickel(II) complexes synthesized, [Ni(pm)₂]Cl₂ and [Ni(pl)₂]Cl₂, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal/fungicidal concentration values for Ni(II) complexes studied were obtained at 25 °C for 24–48 h. The activity data show that the complexes are more potent antimicrobials than the parent ligands.     

On the surface coverage of alumina by molybdenum-oxide in nickel - and cobalt-promoted MoOx/Al2O3 catalysts

The chemisorption of CO₂ has been studied on alumina-supported Co-and Ni-promoted molybdenum-oxide (CoMo, NiMo) and, besides those, on monometallic Co and Ni. Chemisorbed amounts on the monometallic samples were equal to that on the alumina support. XPS measurements were performed with the NiMo and Ni samples. The amounts of surface Mo-and Al-ions were calculated. It could be established that molybdenum oxide forms a near to monomolecular layer on the Co-and Ni-promoted molybdena-alumina samples.     

Combined polymerization catalysis of nickel complex and zirconocene for branched polyethylene

The polymerization behavior of 2-(2′-pyridyl) quinoxaline nickel dibromide/Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO system was investigated in three ways: the Ni catalyst was added first, followed by addition of Zr catalyst (method I); the Ni and Zr catalysts were added simultaneously (method II); and the Zr catalyst was added first, followed by addition of Ni catalyst (method III). Results of GC-MS, GPC,¹³C NMR and DSC investigations indicated that the properties of resulting polyethylene were greatly varied by changing feeding orders of the two catalysts. Decreasing Ni/Zr molar ratio or increasing polymerization temperature gave corresponding polyethylenes with less branches and higher melting point. Compared to the procedure using Cp₂ZrCl₂ catalyst only, the activity of Zr catalyst in those combined system decreased because of the competition of ethylene between the [Ni−C] and [Zr−C] active centers. In addition, other zirconocenes were also employed as copolymerization catalysts in the combined system with nickel complex. compared to Cp₂ZrCl₂ case, the ethyl-bridged Zr catalyst performed better for polymerization of ethylene while the Si-bridged Zr catalyst showed better copolymerization ability.     

Applicability of reversed-phase liquid chromatography for the speciation of vanadyl and nickel metalloporphyrins in oil extracts

Summary Gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatography was examined with a view to using it as a separation technique for the speciation of vanadyl and nickel porphyrins in oil extracts. Poor separations were obtained when precipitation of the sample constituents occurred in the starting mobile phase. The reasons for the precipitation phenomena were found to be highly complex. Mixed crystal formation, slow dissolution kinetics and saturation may influence the elution behaviour of species present in the oil extracts. When precipitation was avoided the separation of the vanadyl porphyrins was significantly improved. Thus far, no satisfactory separations have been obtained for the nickel porphyrinic species.Although the occurrence of precipitation of the extracts hinders the distinct speciation of metalloporphyrins with reversed phase chromatography, the precipitation/dissolution phenomena showed some interesting features as a clean-up step for diluted crude oil samples and oil fractions.     

Molar conductance of aqueous solutions of sodium, potassium, and nickel trifluoromethanesulfonate at 25‡C

The electrical conductivities of aqueous solutions of NaCF₃SO₃, KCF₃SO₃, and Ni(CF₃SO₃)₂ have been measured at 25‡C in the concentration range 1 to 25X 10^-3 mol-dm^-3 The data approach the Onsager limiting law at low concentrations, leading to a limiting molar ion conductivity for the CF₃SO ₃ ⁻ ion of 44.5±0.2 S-cm²-mol^-1, based on standard values for the cations. Using a simple size parameter for unsymmetrical polyatomic ions, based on the ion geometry, it is shown that the well known empirical relation between the molar conductivities of symmetrical ions and their radii can be extended to include certain polyatomic anions including CF₃SO ₃ ⁻ . The results suggest that the CF₃SO ₃ ⁻ ion is either a weak structure breaker in aqueous solution or neutral in this respect.     

Reduction of CO2 by nickel (II) macrocycle catalyst at HMDE

With the aim of finding a suitable electrocatalyst for the efficient reduction of carbon dioxide, the electrochemistry of nickel (II) complex of 1,3,6,9,11,14-hexaazatricyclo [12·2·1·1] octadecane was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and controlled-potential electrolysis (CPE) techniques in the presence and absence of CO₂ in 100% H₂O, CH₃CN-H₂O mixtures (20–100%) and DMF-H₂O (70–100%) mixtures. The efficiency of this process is determined using the coulometry technique. CO is the major product in the gaseous phase and HCOOH the sole product formed in the solution phase.     

Synthesis and characterization of a thioether Schiff base ligand and its metal complexes and crystal structure determination of the nickel(II) complex

Reactions of 1,2-di(o-aminophenylthio)ethane with 3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde yield the new hexadentate N₂S₂O₂ donor thioether Schiff base 1,2-bis(2-((2-(thio)phenylimino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol)ethane (H₂L). Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) complexes of this ligand were prepared. Of these complexes, [NiL]·2H₂O has been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The coordination geometry around Ni(II) was described as octahedral. Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) complexes and the Schiff base ligand have been characterized by CHN analyses, molar conductivity, UV–vis, FT-IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis, structural characterization and ferrimagnetic property of MnPS3 intercalated with nickel(II) cyclopolyamine complex cations

Two new intercalation compounds were prepared by the reactions of Ni(II) cyclopolyamine complex cations with a preintercalate Mn_1−xPS₃K_2x(H₂O)_y, respectively, through “ion exchange” process. Their structures were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The lattice spacing increased 0.567 and 1.093 nm with respect to the pristine MnPS₃. Ferrimagnetism of the intercalates was confirmed by SQUID experiment with T_c at 40 and 33 K, respectively.     

High photocatalytic activity and stability for decomposition of gaseous acetaldehyde on TiO2/Al2O3 composite films coated on foam nickel substrates by sol-gel processes

A set of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) films coated on foam nickel that modified by Al₂O₃ films as transition layer (indicated as TiO₂/Al₂O₃ films) were synthesized via sol-gel route. The bulk and surface properties of the TiO₂/Al₂O₃ films were characterized by thermal gravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and BET. The photocatalytic activities of TiO₂/Al₂O₃ films were investigated based on the degradation of gaseous acetaldehyde under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The foam nickel is a promising substrate material in practical applications because of its excellent hydrodynamic properties for gas passing. The TiO₂/Al₂O₃ composite films showed much higher photocatalytic activity and stability for degradation of gaseous acetaldehyde than the onefold TiO₂ films. The significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity and stability can be ascribed to the coating of Al₂O₃ transition layer, which concentrates the target substances around TiO₂ particles and increases the specific surface area (SSA) of the substrate (the SSAs of bare foam nickel and Al₂O₃ modified foam nickel are 0.12 and 113.7 m²/g, respectively) to provide more sites for TiO₂ loading.