The Inherent Electrochemistry of Nickel/Nickel‐Oxide Nanoparticles

The direct detection of nanoparticles is at the forefront of research owing to their environmental and toxicological applications. Herein, we studied the inherent electrochemistry of Ni and NiO nanoparticles and proposed a simple and direct electrochemical method for the determination of the concentrations of both nickel (Ni) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles in alkaline solution. A highly sensitive voltammetry technique was used to measure the oxidative signal of Ni(OH)₂ that formed spontaneously on the surface of Ni and NiO nanoparticles in alkaline media. Detection limits of 220 μg mL^?1 for Ni and 13 μg mL^?1 for NiO nanoparticles were obtained. Ni and NiO nanoparticles are used as electrode modifiers or as electrochemical signal labels in various biosensing applications. Therefore, methods to rapidly quantify the amount of Ni and NiO nanoparticles are of widespread potential use.     

Nanostructured NiO based all solid state electrochromic device

A nickel oxide film with a thickness of 445 nm was deposited from nickel acetate precursor using the sol–gel dip coating method. The NiO films exhibit optical transmission of 84% at 550 nm and direct energy gap (E _gd) value is 3.64 eV. The FTIR spectrum of the films confirms the formation of Ni–O bond. XRD spectrum reveals the formation of nano crystallites along (111) and (200) planes with a particle size of 17 nm. The electrochromic properties have been studied using cyclic voltammetric (CV) technique. The optical transmission of a glass/FTO/NiO/ZrO₂/FTO/glass EC device is reported.     

A highly sensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on nickel oxide–carbon nanotube hybrid nanobelts

In this study, we demonstrated a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for the determination of glucose in alkaline aqueous solution by using nickel oxide single-walled carbon nanotube hybrid nanobelts (NiO–SWCNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The hybrid nanobelts were prepared by the deposition of SWCNTs onto the Ni(SO₄)_0.3(OH)_1.4 nanobelt surface, followed by heat treatment at different temperatures ranging from 400 °C to 600 °C. The NiO–SWCNTs hybrid nanobelts modified electrode prepared at 500 °C displays enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards glucose oxidation, revealing a synergistic effect between the NiO and the deposited SWCNTs. The as-fabricated nonenzymatic glucose sensor exhibits excellent glucose sensitivity (2,980 μA cm^?2 mM^?1), lower detection limit (0.056 μM, signal/noise [S/N] ratio?=?3), and wider linear range (0.5–1,300 μM). Moreover, the sensor has been successfully used for the assay of glucose in serum samples with good recovery, ranging from 96.4 % to 102.4 %.     

Kinetics of electrochromic process in thin films of cathodically deposited nickel hydroxide

Ni(OH)₂ films have been obtained by cathodic deposition from 1 M Ni(NO₃)₂ on a glass with a current-conducting SnO₂ layer. The films have a porous structure and consist of chaotically joined formations of 100–150 nm in size. They contain a considerable amount of adsorbed water, because of which their refraction index was n?=?~1.5, whereas for crystalline nickel hydroxide, it was n?=?2.37. It has been shown that in the course of discoloration of films through a shift of their potential towards more negative values, an electric field is formed in the bulk of film, which accelerates the entry of cations into it (protons as [H₃O]⁺) from the electrolyte and electrons from ohmic contact. In this case, the initial dependence i(t), where i?~?t ^?1/4, is bound up with gradual increase in proton surface concentration. It is proposed to determine separately the dependence of the effective codiffusion coefficient of charge carriers (protons and electrons) on decoloration potential by the analysis of plots of current, injected charge, and luminous transmittance of films against time. This procedure involves a series of periodic stops of potential during the recording of current–potential curves for an electrochromic electrode and allows one to monitor the ratio of the film forms NiOOH and Ni(OH)₂ in the course of film reduction.     

Synthesis of Ni(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript> in micellar environment: structural,spectroscopic, and electrochemical studies

This work describes the chemical synthesis of nickel hydroxide in the presence of cationic and anionic surfactants (dodecyl benzene sulfonate, DBS^?, and cetyltrimethylammonium, CTA⁺). The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Our findings highlighted that the synthesis in the presence of anionic DBS^?, the α-Ni(OH)₂ structure was preferentially formed. This material showed a high structural disorder and a high amount of intercalated species, suggesting the presence of both micelles and individual surfactants. On the other hand, the synthesis performed in the presence of CTA⁺ has not showed any drastic change in the material structure compared with pure Ni(OH)₂; nevertheless, the intercalated cationic surfactant was identified by FTIR measurements. The enhanced electrochemical response found for the Ni(OH)₂/DBS^? over the Ni(OH)₂/CTA⁺ modified electrodes can be attributed to the enhancement of the ionic diffusion through the solid material as an effect of the high structural disorder and the presence of the excess of the negative electric charge in the Ni(OH)₂ sheets.     

Enhanced Electrochemical Capacitive Properties of Nickel‐Cobalt Oxide Nano‐flakes Materials

Nickel‐cobalt oxide nano‐flakes materials are successfully synthesized by a facile chemical co‐precipitation method followed by a simple calcination process. The studies show that the as‐prepared nickel‐cobalt oxides with different Ni/Co ratio are composed of NiO and Co₃O₄ compounds. The Co_0.56Ni_0.44 oxide material, which exhibits a mesoporous structure with a narrow distribution of pore size from 2 to 7 nm, possesses markedly enhanced charge‐discharge properties at high current density compared with the pure NiO and pure Co₃O₄. The Co_0.56Ni_0.44 oxide electrode shows a specific capacitance value of 1227 F/g at 5 mA/cm², which is nearly three times greater than that of the pure NiO electrode at the same current density.     

Hierarchically Porous Nickel Oxide Nanosheets Grown on Nickel Foam Prepared by One‐Step In Situ Anodization for High‐Performance Supercapacitors

Porous NiO nanosheets are successfully grown on nickel foam substrate through an in situ anodization by using molten KOH as the electrolyte. High‐purity NiO is directly obtained by this one‐step method without any subsequent treatment. The obtained NiO supported on nickel foam is used as a binder‐free electrode for a supercapacitor and its pseudocapacitive behavior has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge tests in a 6 M aqueous solution of KOH. Electrochemical data demonstrates that this binder‐free electrode possesses ultrahigh capacitance (4.74 F cm^?2 at 4 mA cm^?2), excellent rate capability, and cycling stability. After 1000 cycles, the areal capacitance value is 9.4 % lower than the initial value and maintains 85.4 % of the maximum capacitance value.     

Synthesis of Ni-poor NiO nanoparticles for p-DSSC applications

To improve the performances of p-Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (p-DSSC) for the future, the synthesis of modified p-type nickel oxide semiconductor, commonly used as photocathode in such devices, was initiated with Ni₃O₂(OH)₄ as precursor. This specific nickel oxyhydroxide was first characterized by X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Then its thermal decomposition was thoroughly studied in order to control the particles size of the as-prepared NiO nanopowders. Low temperature decomposition in air of this precursor allows the formation of Ni_1−xO nanoparticles with a large amount of Ni vacancies and specific surface areas up to 250 m² g⁻¹. Its ammonolysis at 250 °C leads to nanostructured N-doped NiO (NiO:N) materials.     

Nickel oxide/expanded graphite nanocomposite electrodes for supercapacitor application

Nickel oxide/expanded graphite (NiO/EG) nanocomposites with different loading of EG were prepared through chemically depositing Ni(OH)₂ in EG followed by thermal annealing and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) isotherm and electrochemical measurements. The prepared NiO/EG composites were found to be crystalline and highly porous with high specific surface area and pore volume. SEM analysis reveals uniform porous morphology for NiO in the NiO/EG-60 nanocomposites which shows good specific capacitance (510?F?g^?1) at a current density of 100?mA?g^?1 in 6?mol?L^?1 KOH measured by chronopotentiometry employing a three-electrode system. The specific capacitance retention of the NiO/EG-60 nanocomposites was found to be ca. 95% after 500 continuous galvanostatic charge–discharge cycles, indicating that the NiO/EG nanocomposites can become promising electro-active materials for supercapacitor application.     

Light-powered cell for detection of glucose with the naked eye

A concept for light-powered visual detection of glucose is developed. The detection mechanism is based on pairing a photo-active anode with an electrochromic counter electrode. The photoelectrochemical reaction changes the oxidation state of the analyte, leading to a change in the color of the electrochromic material, which makes visual detection possible. All of the electrical charge required to change the color of the electrochromic material is supplied by the photoelectrochemical reaction powered by visible light, so no conventional energy source is required. The proposed system consists of hematite modified with nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)₂) as the photoanode, and Prussian blue deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode as the electrochromic cathode. Under illumination, photo-oxidation of glucose at the photoanode is followed by reduction of Prussian blue to Prussian white at the cathode. The presence of glucose can therefore be detected visually as decolorization of Prussian blue occurs.     

Chemical deposition and exfoliation from liquid crystal template: Nickel/nickel (II) hydroxide nanoflakes electrocatalyst for a non-enzymatic glucose oxidation reaction

This work reports the synthesis of nickel/nickel hydroxides nanoflakes (Ni/Ni(OH)₂-NFs) at room temperature via a novel chemical deposition and exfoliation from a liquid crystal template mixture. The nickel ions dissolved in the interstitial aqueous domain of the Brij®78 hexagonal liquid crystal template were deposited by a reducing agent of sodium borohydride that concurrently reduces the nickel ions and generates extreme hydrogen gas bubbles, that exfoliated the nickel/nickel hydroxide layers. The Ni/Ni(OH)₂-NFs crystal structure, morphology, and surface area characterizations revealed the formation of semi-crystalline α-Ni(OH)₂ nanoflakes with a thickness of approximately 10 nm and a specific surface area of about 135 m²/g. The electrochemical measurements of cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and impedance analysis showed that the Ni/Ni(OH)₂-NFs exhibited significant performance for the glucose non-enzymatic oxidation in an alkaline solution in comparison to the bare-nickel hydroxide (bare-Ni(OH)₂) deposited without surfactant. The Ni/Ni(OH)₂-NFs electrode showed superior glucose oxidation activity over the bare-Ni(OH)₂ catalyst with a sensitivity of 1.078 mA mM^?1 cm^?2 with a linear concentration dependency range from 0.2 to 60 mM and a detection limit of 0.2 mM (S/N = 3). The enhanced electrochemical active surface area and mesoporosity of the 2D nanoflakes make the Ni/Ni(OH)₂-NFs a promising catalyst in the application of glucose non-enzymatic sensing.     

NiO/CNTs derived from metal-organic frameworks as superior anode material for lithium-ion batteries

In this work, porous NiO microspheres interconnected by carbon nanotubes (NiO/CNTs) were successfully fabricated by the pyrolysis of nickel metal-organic framework precursors with CNTs and evaluated as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The structures, morphologies, and electrochemical performances of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption-desorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that the introduction of CNTs can improve the lithium-ion storage performance of NiO/CNT composites. Especially, NiO/CNTs-10 exhibits the highest reversible capacity of 812 mAh g^?1 at 100 mA g^?1 after 100 cycles. Even cycled at 2 A g^?1, it still maintains a stable capacity of 502 mAh g^?1 after 300 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance of NiO/CNT composites should be attributed to the formation of 3D conductive network structure with porous NiO microspheres linked by CNTs, which benefits the electron transfer ability and the buffering of the volume expansion during the cycling process.     

Untersuchungen an Nickeloxid-Mischkatalysatoren. XI. Oberflächenchemische Eigenschaften von NiO/SiO2-Katalysatoren

Studies on Nickel Oxide Mixed Catalysts. XI. Surface Chemical Properties of NiO/SiO₂ Catalysts NiO/SiO₂ catalysts with different composition prepared by precipitation have been investigated which are characterized by a nickel layersilicate-like structure. The determination of the surface chemical properties was carried out by infrared spectroscopy (before and after pyridine adsorption), ¹H-NMR-measurements, chemisorption of ammonia, and titration with n-butylamine. It has been found three kinds of hydroxid groups which are assigned to Ni? OH and Si? OH groups with respect to investigations on definite nickel layersilicates. Furthermore, coordinatively unsaturated Ni^II surface sites were indicated. The number of the OH groups as well as the centers determined by chemisorption of bases increase with increasing NiO content. The obtained results allow the conclusion that the OH groups and the coordinatively unsaturated Ni^II surface sites are weakly acid.     

Effects of deposition temperature and annealing temperature on the morphology and electrochemical capacitance of Ni(OH)2 thin films

In this paper, we report 3D nickel (II) hydroxide thin films with porous nanostructures prepared on Ni foam by direct current electrodeposition from aqueous solution of Ni(NO₃)₂ through basic chemicals. The effect of deposition temperature on Ni(OH)₂ thin film morphology is examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy, which is found to have significant influence on capacitance performance of Ni(OH)₂ thin films. Moreover, the effect of annealing temperature on electrochemical capacitance and long-time stability of Ni(OH)₂ thin films is investigated. An optimum-specific capacitance value of 2,447?farads?g^?1 is obtained for Ni(OH)₂ thin film deposited at 20?°C and annealed at 100?°C.     

Thermal and spectral features of nickel compounds synthesized within the pores of photonic crystals based on SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Nanoparticles of NiC₂O₄ · 2H₂O were obtained within the interspheric voids of synthetic opal polycrystalline samples based on SiO₂. The thermal decomposition of NiC₂O₄ · 2H₂O inclusions within the pores of crystallites was studied by means of thermal gravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry under static conditions in atmospheres of He and air. The efficient activation energy of dehydration (180 ± 10 kJ mol⁻¹) and dehydration enthalpy of nickel oxalate crystalline hydrate (69.9 kJ mol⁻¹) within the pores of photonic crystals based on SiO2 were calculated. Pyrolysis of the nickel oxalate led to the formation of NiO nanoparticles within the voids and on the external surface of the photonic crystallites. The behavior of polycrystalline samples of the photonic crystals in a medium of immersion liquids was studied. It was shown that the partial population of the interspheric pores of photonic crystals with NiC₂O₄ · 2H₂O, NiO, and Ni that diffuse visible light do not lead to a total loss of light conductivity in the immersion medium. The diffuse reflection spectra of a sample of photonic crystals populated with NiC₂O₄ · 2H₂O and NiO phases were recorded. A sample of photonic crystals with inclusions of metallic nickel particles exhibiting magnetic properties was obtained by treating nickel oxide-containing synthetic opal based on SiO₂ with molecular hydrogen.     

介孔氧化镍的合成、表征和在电化学电容器中的应用

以十二烷基硫酸钠为模板剂, 采用尿素为沉淀剂, 用均匀沉淀法, 适当控制尿素的水解速度, 制备具有介孔结构的氢氧化镍胶体, 在不同温度下焙烧处理得到孔分布集中的氧化镍介孔分子筛. 结果表明, 在523 K下焙烧得到的氧化镍BET比表面达到477.7 m²•g^－1. 结构表征还显示, 介孔氧化镍的孔壁为多晶结构, 其孔结构形成机理应为准反胶束模板机理. 循环伏安法表明用NiO介孔分子筛制备的电极有很好的电容性能. 与浸渍法和阴极沉淀法制得的NiO相比, 这种介孔结构的NiO能够大量用来制作电化学电容器电极, 并且保持较高的比电容量和良好的电容性能.     

Surfactant effect on electrochemical-induced synthesis of α-Ni(OH)2

Nickel hydroxide films were electrosynthesized in the presence of different diluted surfactant solutions by galvanostatic electroprecipitation. Lamellar α-Ni(OH)₂ films are obtained using cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and also neutral surfactant Tween® 80. The films were structurally and morphologically characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The results evidenced that SDS remains intercalated between the lamellae of α-Ni(OH)₂. Albeit the presence of CTAB and Tween® 80, it was noticed in FTIR spectra that the surfactants did not intercalate. The morphology was affected by the presence of different surfactants. All studied surfactants displaced the oxidation potential (E _O) of Ni²⁺/Ni³⁺ process to less positive values. Also, the presence of surfactants improved the electrode charge efficiency and the charge response for the same number of moles of nickel ions deposited. The ratio of the charge and frequency change is 4.4 times bigger for films deposited with SDS when compared with pure α-Ni(OH)₂ films.     

η3-Allylnickel alkoxides and their use as homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for the dimerization of olefins

η³-Allylnickel alkoxides {η³-C₃H₅NiOR}₂ (R = Me, Et, i-Pr, Ph, SiPh₃) may be activated by gaseous boron trifluoride (BF₃) to give active catalysts for the dimerization of propene in homogeneous phase. In CH₂Cl₂ at ?20 °C catalytic turnover numbers of 5000 mol propene(mol Ni)^?1h^?1 were measured. The nature of the OR group influences both the catalytic activity and the oligomerization product distribution. The ratio of methylpentenes to dimethylbutenes in the dimer fraction may be controlled by the presence of additional phosphine ligands at the nickel atom. The nickel alkoxide precursor was heterogenized on alumina to give {Al₂O₃}–O–Ni–(η³-C₃H₅). Subsequent activation using gaseous BF₃ generates a powerful heterogeneous olefin dimerization catalyst which converts 50 × 10³ mol propene (mol Ni)^?1 at ?10° to ?5°C in a batchwise process and 143 × 10³ mol propene (mol Ni)^?1 continuously to give 75% dimers and 25% higher oligomers. The solvent-free treatment of oxide supports, e.g. alumina or silica, with gaseous BF₃ produces strong ‘solid acids’. The activated hydroxyl groups on the support surface serve as effective anchor sites for organometallic complexes to form heterogenous catalysts. By reaction of Ni(cod)₂ with {Al₂O₃}O(BF₃)H or {SiO₂}O(BF₃)H, η¹, η²-cyclo-octenylnickel–O fragments may be fixed to the surface. In the absence of halogenated solvents, the resulting catalysts, e.g. {SiO₂}O–(BF₃)–Ni–(η¹, η²-C₈H₁₃), dimerize propene continuously at +5°C at the rate of 800 × 10³ mol liquid propene (mol Ni)^?1.     

Bis(benzoylpyridin-p-toluensulfonylhydrazido)nickel Ni(BPSH)2 · H2O — Beziehungen zwischen Struktur und Redox- bzw. Extraktionsverhalten heterocyclischer Sulfonamidochelate

Bis(benzoylpyridin-toluensulfonylhydrazido)nickel Ni(BPSH)₂ · H₂O — Relations between Structure, Redox, and Extraction Properties of Heterocyclic Sulfonamido Chelates The crystal structure of Ni(BPSH)₂ · H₂O was determined by x-ray diffraction: monoclinic, space group P21/c (Nr. 14); a = 15.077(4) Å, b = 14.901(3) Å, c = 16.335(3) Å, β = 95.74(1)°. R = 0.047 for a total of 5564 observed reflexions. Ni(BPSH)₂ · H₂O has a distorted tetrahedral structure with two six-membered chelate rings, one of them with a boat from. The electron system of the building blocks CNN^? within the chelate rings approaches that of a diazallyl group. The result is a high electron density on the sp²-hybridized donor atom N^? and, as a consequence, a short Ni? N^?-distance (1.908 or 1.924 Å). The electronic properties of N^? also explain the high NH-acidity of the acid H(BPSH) (pk_s = 9,51 in 75 per cent dioxane) and the ligand field strength of BPSH^? which is low compared to that of other bidentate sulfonamido ligands and which is reflected in the paramagnetism of Ni(BPSH)₂ · H₂O. The redox behavior of metal chelates of the type, which is represented by Ni(BPSH)₂ · H₂O, is caused by a building block of the ligand which is also present in bipyridyl or in the 1,4-diaza-1,3-dienes. The central atoms M¹¹ have only the function of interference factors.     

X-ray and UV photoemission studies of valence electronic structure of NiO

The X-ray and UV photoemission valence band spectra of NiO are interpreted using the molecular orbital theory for the NiO^10?₆ cluster and the sudden approximation (monopole selection rules). They exhibit the effects of crystal field splitting, multiplet splitting, electron shake-up (O 2pe^b_g→ Ni 3de^a_g). relaxation and Ni 3dO 2p hybridization. Shake-up satellite data indicate that the NiO optical absorption edge near 4 eV is associated with an O 2p → Ni 3d transition. The NiO valence electronic structure obtained in this work is compared with band structure models of Wilson and Mattheiss.