Crystallographic and electrochemical characteristics of La0.7Mg0.3Ni3.5-x (Al0.5Mo0.5)(x) (x=0-0.8) hydrogen storage alloys

The crystal structure, hydrogen storage property and electrochemical characteristics of the La0.7Mg0.3Ni3.5-x(Al0.5Mo0.5), (x=0-0.8) alloys have been investigated systematically. It can be found that with X-ray powder diffraction and Rietveld analysis the alloys are of multiphase alloy and consisted of impurity LaNi phase and two main crystallographic phases, namely the La(La, Mg)(2)Ni-9 phase and the LaNi5 phase, and the lattice parameter and the cell volume of both the La(La, Mg)(2)Ni-9 phase and the LaNi5 phase increases with increasing A] and Mo content in the alloys. The P-C isotherms curves indicate that the hydrogen storage capacity of the alloy first increases and then decreases with increasing x, and the equilibrium pressure decreases with increasing x. The electrochemical measurements show that the maximum discharge capacity first increases from 354.2 (v = 0) to 397.6 mAh g(-1) (x = 0.6) and then decreases to 370.4 mAh g(-1) (x= 0.8). The high-rate dischargeability of the alloy electrode increases lineally from 55.7% (x=0) to 73.8% (x=0.8) at the discharge current density of 1200 mA g(-1). Moreover, the exchange current density of the alloy electrodes also increases monotonously with increasing x.

Novel highly active binuclear neutral nickel and palladium complexes as precatalysts for norbornene polymerization

A series of binuclear neutral nickel and palladium complexes [(XC6H2CH=NC6H3-iPr(2))MRL](2) 4b-f (X=NO2, M=Ni, R=Ph, L=PPh3, 4b; X=H, M=Pd, R=Me, L=PPh3,4c; X=H,M=Pd, R=Me, L=Py, 4d; X=NO2,M=Pd, R=Me, L=PPh3, 4e; X=NO2, M=Pd, R=Me, L=Py, 4f) and [(C10H7CH=NC6H3-iPr(2))MRL](2) 8a-c (M=Ni, R=Ph, L=PPh3, 8a; M=Pd, R=Me, L=PPh3, 8b; M=Pd, R=Me, L=Py, 8c) have been synthesized and characterized. The structures of complexes 4e and 8b have also been confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. With modified methylalummoxane (MMAO) as cocatalysts, these complexes and complex [(C6H3CH=NC6H3-iPr(2))NiPh(PPh3)](2) 4a are capable of catalyzing the addition polymerization of norbomene (NBE) with the high activity up to 2.3 x 10(8) g PNBE/(mol(M) h). The structure of complexes affects considerably catalytic activity towards norbomene polymerization. The polymers obtained with nickel complexes are soluble, while those obtained with palladium complexes are insoluble. Palladium complexes 4c, 4e and 8b bearing PPh3 ligands exhibit much higher activities than the corresponding complexes 4d, M and 8c bearing pyridine ligands under the same conditions.

Nickel complexes catalyzed Heck reaction of iodobenzene and methyl acrylate

Nickel appears the most promising for the replacement of palladium among the inexpensive transition metals for that it is active for Heck reaction and about 500 times cheaper than palladium. In this article, we describe our recent results in the area of nickel-catalyzed Heck vinylations. Main focus is on the influence of ligand concentration in different organic solvents and the effects of the addition of water. The conversion is high in NMP and increases with increasing of PPh3/Ni ratio; in ethanol and toluene the conversion presents a maximum value on Ni(PPh3)(2). The effect of the addition of water is sensitive to the concentration of PPh3 and the nature of solvent, it was well explained with the formation and transfer of the active species in the different solvent systems.

Electrochemical characteristics and microstructure of Zr0.9Ti0.1Ni1.1Mn0.6V0.3-LaNi5 composite hydrogen storage alloys

AB(2-x)%LaNi5 (x =0, 1, 5, 10) composite alloys were prepared by melting Zr0.9Ti0.1Ni1.1Mn0.6V0.3 with a small amount of LaNi5 alloy as addition. The microstructure and electrochemical characteristics of the composite alloys were investigated by means of XRD, SEM, EDS and electrochemical measurements. It was shown that LaNi5 addition does not change the basic hexagonal C14 Laves phase of AB(2) alloys, but some second phases have segregated. It was found that the addition of LaNi5 greatly improves the activation property, high-rate dischargeability (HRD) and charge-discharge cycling stability of AB(2) Laves phase alloy. At current density of 1200 mA/g, HRD of the alloy increases from 38.92% (x =0) to 60.09% (x = 10). The capacity retention of the alloy after 200 charge-discharge cycles increases from 57. 10% (x = 0) to 83.86% (x = 5) and 67.31% (x = 10). The improvement of the electrochemical characteristics caused by LaNi5 addition seems to be related to formation of the second phases.

Crystallographic and electrochemical properties of ball-milled quasicrystalline Ti45Zr35Ni17Cu3 alloy with 20 mass% Ni

Icosahedral quasicrystalline Ti45Zr35Ni17Cu3 alloy powder was ball-milled with 20 mass% Ni, and the effect of the ball-milling time (t) on crystallographic and electrochemical characteristics were investigated. The amounts of icosahedral quasicrystalline and Ni phases decreased when ball-milling time increased from 30 to 180 min. The powder consisted of amorphous and (Ni and Ti) phases after 360 min of ball-milling. The maximum discharge capacity of the powder electrodes first increased from 89 (t = 0 min) to 192 mAh g(-1) (t = 180 min), and then decreased to 138 mAh g(-1) (t = 360 min). The high-rate dischargeability and the discharge capacity after 15 cycles increased with increasing ball-milling time.

Microstructures and tensile properties of Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr-xNd-yY (x+y=3, mass%) alloys

Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr-xNd-yY (mass%) alloys which containing different Nd:Y mass ratio of 3:0, 2:1, 1:2 and 0:3 with a constant x + y = 3 were prepared by metal mould casting method, and the microstructure, aging behaviour and tensile properties have been investigated. The fibrous eutectic areas along the boundaries enlarge clearly in the as-cast alloys containing Y element, and the fine grain boundaries and dispersed precipitation are observed in the aged alloys. The Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr-2Nd-Y alloy exhibits notably age-hardening behaviour and the highest mechanical property. The ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr-2Nd-Y alloy in the peak aged hardness are 293 and 221 MPa at room temperature, 248 and 191 MPa at 230 degrees C. The improvement of age-hardening response and tensile properties is mainly attributed to the quadrate-like stable Mg5RE precipitate, which forms readily and orderly in aged Mg-8Gd-0.6Zr-2Nd-Y alloy.

Synergistic effect of supported nickel catalyst with intumescent flame-retardants on flame retardancy and thermal stability of polypropylene

Supported nickel catalyst (Ni-Cat) was used as a catalyst to improve the flame retarclancy of intumescent flame-retardants (IFR) systems based on ammonium polyphosphate and pentaerythritol (PETOL) in polypropylene (PP) matrix. Limited oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 rating, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the flame retardancy and thermal stability of the PP systems, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze the microstructure and composition of the chars formed during measuring LOI value and after combustion at 800 degrees C. The catalytic effect of NiCat was shown in an increase of LOI, a change in the char microstructure, and improvement of the thermal stability in the PP systems, which result from the synergistic effect of Ni-Cat and IFR. The results from FE-SEM and FTIR spectra of the char can explain how this synergistic effect happened.

Structures and electrochemical characteristics of several kinds of alloys

The structures and the electrochemical characteristics of La0.7-xCexMg0.3Ni2.8Co0.5 (x = 0.1-0.5) alloy, Ti0.25-xZrxV0.35Cr0.1Ni0.3 (x = 0.05-0.15) alloy and AB(3

New neutral nickel(II) complexes bearing pyrrole-imine chelate ligands: synthesis, structure and norbornene polymerization behavior

New neutral nickel(II) complexes bearing nonsymmetric bidentate pyrrole-imine chelate ligands (4a-d), [2-(ArNCH)C4H3N]Ni(PPh3)Ph [Ar=2,6-diisopropylphenyl (a), 2-methyl-6-isopropylphenyl (b), 2,6-diethylphenyl (c), 2-tert-butylphenyl (d)], have been prepared in good yields from the sodium salts of the corresponding ligands and trans-Ni(PPh3)(2)(Ph)Cl, and the structure of complex 4a has been confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. These neutral Ni(II) complexes were investigated as catalysts for the vinylic polymerization of norbornene. Using modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst, these complexes display very high activities and produce great mass polymers. Catalyst activity of up to 4.2 x 10(7) g (mol Ni h)(-1) and the viscosity-average molecular weight of polymer of up to 9.2 x 10(5) g mol(-1) were observed. Catalyst activity, polymer yield, and polymer molecular weight can be controlled over a wide range by the variation of reaction parameters such as Al-Ni ratio, norbornene-catalyst ratio, monomer concentration, polymerization reaction temperature and time.

Oxamido-bridged heterobinuclear copper(II)-nickel(II) complex and homotrinuclear nickel(II) complex with 2D supramolecular structure: synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic and spectroscopic properties

The oxamido-bridged heterobinuclear copper(II)-nickel(II) complex, [Cu(oxbe)Ni(phen)(2)]ClO4.3H(2)O (1) and homotrinuclear nickel(11) complex {[Ni(oxbe)](2)Ni(H2O)(2)}.2.5DMF (2) have been synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR, EPR. and electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility, where H(3)oxbe is dissymmetrical ligand N-benzoato-N'-(2-aminoethyl)ox-amido, phen = 1.10-phenanthroline, DMF = dimethylformamide. Complex I has an extended oxamido-bridged structure consisting of planar copper(II) and octahedral nickel(II) ions. The chi(M) and mu(eff) versus T plots of 1 is typical of an antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(II)-Ni(II,) pair with a spin-doublet ground state, and magnetic analysis leads to J = -57.1 cm(-1). The molecular structure of 2 is centrosymmetrical, with one octahedral nickel atom lying at an inversion center and two terminal Ni(II) atoms in approximately square planar environment. Through the hydrogen bonds and pi- pi stacking interactions, a 2D supramolecular structure is formed.

Novel, highly active binuclear 2,5-disubstituted Amino-p-benzoquinone-nickel(II) ethylene polymerization catalysts

Reaction of salts of the 2,5-disubstituted amino-p-benzoquinone bridging ligand (la-e) with trans-bis(triphenylphosphane)phenylnickel(II) chloride results in the binuclear complexes 2a-e, which show high activities for ethylene polymerization without any cocatalysts. High-molecular-weight, moderately branched polyethylene of broad molecular-weight distribution was obtained.

Ethylene polymerization by self-immobilized neutral nickel catalysts bearing allyl groups

[Ni(Ph)(PPh3)(N,O)] complexes containing phenyliminophenolato ligands (N,O) (1: N,O = A; 2: N,O = B; 3: N,O = Q 4: N,O = D; 5: N,O = E) have been synthesized and characterized. The molecular structure of 4 was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Complexes 2-5 bearing allyl groups have been investigated as self-immobilized catalysts for ethylene polymerization without the use of co-catalysts. The high ethylene polymerization activities of ca. 10(5) g.PE mol(-1) Ni.h(-1) and high molecular weight (M-w approximate to 10(5)) of polyethylene could be accomplished by changing the ligand structures and reaction conditions. The self-immobilization of catalysts brings about a dramatic increase in the catalytic activities of ethylene polymerization.

Syntheses of biphenyl polyimides via nickel-catalyzed coupling polymerization of bis(chlorophthalimide)s

A facile method for the synthesis of biphenyl polyimides, which involves the nickel-catalyzed coupling of aromatic dichlorides containing imide structure in the presence of zinc and triphenylphosphine, has been developed. The polymerizations proceeded smoothly under mild conditions and produced biphenyl polyimides with inherent viscosities of 0.13-0.98 dL/g. The polymerizations of bis(4-chlorophthalimide)s with bulky side substituents gave high molecular weight polymers. Low molecular weight polymers from bis(4-chlorophthalimide)s containing rigid diamine moieties and bis(3-chlorophthalimide)s were obtained because of the formations of polymer precipitate and cyclic oligoimides, respectively. The effects of various factors, such as amount of catalyst, solvent volume, ligand, reaction temperature, and time, on the polymerization were studied. The random copolymerization of two bis(chlorophthalimide)s in varying proportions produced medium molecular weight material. The TgS of prepared polyimides were observed at 245-311 degreesC, and the thermogravimetry of polymers showed 10% weight loss in nitrogen at 470-530 degreesC.

Preparation of W-Al alloys by mechanical alloying

W1-xAlx (x=0-0.86) alloys were synthesized by mechanically alloying the pure metal powder mixtures at designated compositions by conventional high-energy ball milling. The W-Al alloys were stable under high pressure and high temperature. The alloys were lighter than W. The hardness and oxidation resistance of the alloys was greatly improved compared to both W and Al. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.