Etched nickel microspheres catalyze methanol oxidation and in situ TEM observation of nickel microcrystal coalescence

Publication date: 15 May 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 122
Author(s): Lei Zhao, Zhihuan Xi, Lijun Zhao
Here, nickel microspheres (Ni) were prepared by a solvothermal method, and then they were etched by Fe³⁺ ions in glycerol at 363K to realize surface-nanocrystallization. By surface-nanocrystallization on Ni, the reactivity of Ni can be improved and its magnetic properties can be maintained at their usual rate, which are important for the potential application of Ni as a magnetic catalyst. In this paper, the etched nickel microspheres (NiE) as a catalyst of methanol oxidation not only show high peak of current densities but also can be easily fixed on and cleaned out of electrode owing to their excellent soft magnetic property. Moreover, an interesting phenomenon is that coalescence phenomenon on micron-scale NiE happened after irradiation of electron beam due to their high reactivity and varied structures.

Graphical abstract

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