Search Results (10)

The present study focuses on investigating the evolution of phase transformations in the Mg-Ni-Ce system under the influence of mechanical synthesis (MS) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Magnesium powder mixtures with different nickel and cerium contents (Mg-3%Ni-2%Ce, Mg-7%Ni-3%Ce, and Mg-10%Ni-5%Ce) were mechanically activated along with various grinding parameters. The X-ray phase analysis (XRD) has shown the successive stages of the phase formation in the MS process: from the initial components to the formation of intermetallic compounds of Mg₂Ni, Mg₁₂Ni₆, and CeMg₃. An increase in the intensity of mechanical treatment facilitated the accelerated destruction of the crystal lattice, the generation of defects, and the formation of new phases, as evidenced by the broadening and reduction in the intensity of Mg diffraction peaks. The subsequent SPS stage promoted the completion of phase transformations, structural stabilization, and the formation of a dense, multicomponent microstructure with a uniform distribution of intermetallic compounds. The observed average crystallite sizes ranged from 20 to 70 nm, depending on the processing conditions. The research results demonstrate the possibility of targeted control over the phase composition, opening new opportunities for the development of highly efficient hydrogen-absorbing alloys. Full article

A CuNiCe-O nanocomposite was fabricated on the Cu₄₀Ni₂₀Al₁₀Ce₂₆Pt₃Ru₁ metallic glass (MG) ribbon surface by dealloying. The influences of Ni and dealloying time on the morphology and EOR performance were analyzed. The results suggest that the catalytic activity and stability of the dealloyed MG ribbon could be significantly enhanced owing to the alloying of Ni to the Cu₆₀Al₁₀Ce₂₆Pt₃Ru₁ MG ribbon precursor. The activated D-Cu₄₀Ni₂₀Al₁₀Ce₂₆Pt₃Ru₁ ribbon obtained at an etching time of 3 h had a better electrochemical ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) performance than other dealloyed samples due to the formation of abundant active sites and the presence of defects within the CuNiCe-O composite. Full article

China’s rare earth reserves and consumption are the highest in the world. Rare earth metals and alloys play a pivotal role in the domains of permanent magnetic materials, hydrogen storage materials, luminescent materials, abrasive materials, etc. The molten salt electrolysis process is the most widely used method for producing light rare earth metals and alloys in China, with distinct advantages such as continuous production and short process flow. This article focuses on the process technology of preparing rare earth metals and alloys by electrolyzing rare earth oxides in fluoride systems. This article summarizes the effects of process parameters such as cathode and anode structures, electrolysis temperature, and current density on the direct recovery and current efficiency of the preparation of light rare earth metals (La, Ce, Pr, Nd), RE–Mg (RE for rare earth) alloys, RE–Al alloys, RE–Ni alloys, and other rare earth alloys. Meanwhile, the disadvantages of the electrolytic cells and electrode configurations that are currently used in industrial production are discussed. Accordingly, the future prospects of molten salt electrolysis technology in the preparation of rare earth metals and alloys are clarified. Full article

Highly atypical mineralization involving Pd-Pt, Au-Ag, REE, Y, Zr, U, Th, and Cl-F-enriched minerals is found in zones with base metal sulfides (BMS; ~5 vol.% to 20 vol.%) in the eastern portion of the Oktyabrsky deposit in the Norilsk complex (Russia). The overall variations in Mg# index, 100 Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺ + Mn), in host-rock minerals are 79.8 → 74.1 in olivine, 77.7 → 65.3 in orthopyroxene, 79.9 → 9.2 in clinopyroxene, and An_79.0 → An_3.7. The span of clinopyroxene and plagioclase compositions reflects their protracted crystallization from early magmatic to late interstitial associations. The magnesian chromite (Mg# 43.9) trends towards Cr-bearing magnetite with progressive buildups in oxygen fugacity; ilmenite varies from early Mg-rich to late Mn-rich variants. The main BMS are chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, troilite, and Co-bearing pentlandite, with less abundant cubanite (or isocubanite), rare bornite, Co-bearing pyrite, Cd-bearing sphalerite (or wurtzite), altaite, members of the galena-clausthalite series and nickeline. A full series of Au-Ag alloy compositions is found with minor hessite, acanthite and argentopentlandite. The uncommon assemblage includes monazite-(Ce), thorite-coffinite, thorianite, uraninite, zirconolite, baddeleyite, zircon, bastnäsite-(La), and an unnamed metamict Y-dominant zirconolite-related mineral. About 20 species of PGM (platinum group minerals) were analyzed, including Pd-Pt tellurides, bismuthotellurides, bismuthides and stannides, Pd antimonides and plumbides, a Pd-Ag telluride, a Pt arsenide, a Pd-Ni arsenide, and unnamed Pd stannide-arsenide, Pd germanide-arsenide and Pt-Cu arseno-oxysulfide. The atypical assemblages are associated with Cl-rich annite with up to 7.54 wt.% Cl, Cl-rich hastingsite with up 4.06 wt.% Cl, ferro-hornblende (2.53 wt.% Cl), chlorapatite (>6 wt.% Cl) and extensive solid solutions of chlorapatite, fluorapatite and hydroxylapatite, Cl-bearing members of the chlorite group (chamosite; up to 0.96 wt.% Cl), and a Cl-bearing serpentine (up to 0.79 wt.% Cl). A decoupling of Cl and F in the geochemically evolved system is evident. The complex assemblages formed late from Cl-enriched fluids under subsolidus conditions of crystallization following extensive magmatic differentiation in the ore-bearing sequences. Full article

The use of silicon carbide particles (SiCp) as reinforcement in aluminium (Al)-based composites (Al/SiCp) can offer high hardness and high stiffness. The rare-earth elements like lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) and transition metals like nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) were added into the matrix to form intermetallic phases; this is one way to improve the mechanical property of the composite at elevated temperatures. The α-Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₃Si₂, Al₂₀(La,Ce)Ti₂, and Al₁₁(La,Ce)₃, π-Al₈FeMg₃Si₆ phases are formed. Nanoindentation was employed to measure the hardness and elastic modulus of the phases formed in the composite alloys. The rule of mixture was used to predict the modulus of the matrix alloys. The Halpin–Tsai model was applied to calculate the elastic modulus of the particle-reinforced composites. The transition metals (Ni and Cu) and rare-earth elements (La and Ce) determined a 5–15% increase of the elastic modulus of the matrix alloy. The SiC particles increased the elastic modulus of the matrix alloy by 10–15% in composite materials. Full article

Al-Ce based alloys have gained recent interest and have proven to have excellent strength without heat treatment and high thermal stability. Challenges with the production of Al-Ce samples from elemental powders arise due to the elemental material before alloying being susceptible to rapid oxidation. The methodology for making superconductive wire, powder-in-tube, was used as a consolidate Al and Ce elemental powder, and Al-8 wt % Ce-10 wt % Mg composite powder into bulk nanostructured material. Powder samples are fabricated in an inert controlled atmosphere, then sealed in a tube to avoid oxidation of powders. Therefore, most of the powder is used without much loss. We used 316 stainless-steel tubes as a sheathing material. For Al-xCe wt % (x = 8 to 14) samples of elemental powder, liquid phase sintering was used and for Al-Ce-Mg powder solid-state sintering. Characterization of the bulk consolidated material after sintering, and before and after heat treatment, was made using optical and Scanning Electron Microscope imaging, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, Microhardness and Rockwell Hardness test. We demonstrated that microstructure stability in Al-Ce-based specimens can be retained after thermomechanical processing. Densification was achieved and oxidation of powder was avoided in most samples. In addition, we found that Fe and Ni in the sheathing material react with Al in the process, and Ce concentration modifies the reactivity the sheath. Full article

In this study palladium-nickel (Pd-Ni) nanoparticles supported on carbon and cerium oxide (Pd-Ni/AC-CeO₂) were synthesized by a transfer phase method and characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The XRD and SEM data concluded the presence of alloy formation between Pd and Ni. The synthesized particles were used as an adsorbent for removal of azo dye acid orange-8 (AO-8) from water and were found to be effective in removal (over 90% removal efficiency) of the selected dye. Different kinetics and equilibrium models were applied to calculate the adsorption parameters. The most suitable model that best fitted the equilibrium data was the Langmuir model and maximum adsorption capacities were 666.6, 714 and 769 mg/g at 293, 313 and 333 K, respectively, with R² values closed to 1 while in the case of the kinetics data the best fit was obtained with a pseudo-second order kinetics model with a high R² value. Furthermore, the adsorption thermodynamics parameters such as free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were calculated and the adsorption process was to found be exothermic with a value of ΔH° (−7.593 kJ mol⁻¹), spontaneous as ΔG° values were negative (−18.7327, −19.4870, and −20.584 kJ/mol at 293, 313 and 333 K, respectively). A positive entropy change ΔS° with a value of 0.0384 kJ /mol K indicates increased disorder at the solid–solution interface during the adsorption process. An attempt was made to recycle the Pd-Ni/AC-CeO₂ with suitable solvents and the recycled adsorbent was reused for 6 cycles with AO-8 removal efficiency up to 80%. Based on findings of the study, the synthesized adsorbent could effectively be used for the removal of other pollutants from wastewater, however, further studies are needed to prove the mechanisms. Full article

Exsolved perovskites can be obtained from lanthanum ferrites, such as La_0.6Sr_0.4Fe_0.8Co_0.2O₃, as result of Ni doping and thermal treatments. Ni can be simply added to the perovskite by an incipient wetness method. Thermal treatments that favor the exsolution process include calcination in air (e.g., 500 °C) and subsequent reduction in diluted H₂ at 800 °C. These processes allow producing a two-phase material consisting of a Ruddlesden–Popper-type structure and a solid oxide solution e.g., α-Fe_100-y-zCo_yNi_zO_x oxide. The formed electrocatalyst shows sufficient electronic conductivity under reducing environment at the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) anode. Outstanding catalytic properties are observed for the direct oxidation of dry fuels in SOFCs, including H₂, methane, syngas, methanol, glycerol, and propane. This anode electrocatalyst can be combined with a full density electrolyte based on Gadolinia-doped ceria or with La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O₃ (LSGM) or BaCe_0.9Y_0.1O_3-δ (BYCO) to form a complete perovskite structure-based cell. Moreover, the exsolved perovskite can be used as a coating layer or catalytic pre-layer of a conventional Ni-YSZ anode. Beside the excellent catalytic activity, this material also shows proper durability and tolerance to sulfur poisoning. Research challenges and future directions are discussed. A new approach combining an exsolved perovskite and an NiCu alloy to further enhance the fuel flexibility of the composite catalyst is also considered. In this review, the preparation methods, physicochemical characteristics, and surface properties of exsoluted fine nanoparticles encapsulated on the metal-depleted perovskite, electrochemical properties for the direct oxidation of dry fuels, and related electrooxidation mechanisms are examined and discussed. Full article

In the present paper, the microstructures of three kinds of in-situ reinforcements Al-Ti-C, Al-Ti-B, and Al-Ti-B-C-Ce were deeply investigated using a combination of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of in-situ reinforcements on the room temperature and elevated temperature (350 °C) tensile strengths of Al-13Si-4Cu-1Mg-2Ni alloy were analyzed. It is found that doping with trace amounts of B and Ce, the size of the Al₃Ti phase in the in-situ reinforced alloy changed from 80 µm (un-reinforced) to about 10 µm, with the simultaneous formation of the AlTiCe phase. The Al-Ti-B-C-Ce reinforcement which is rapid solidified, was more effective and superior to enhance the tensile strengths of the Al-13Si-4Cu-1Mg-2Ni alloy, both at room and high temperatures than those of addition other reinforcements. The room temperature (RT) strength increased by 19.0%, and the 350 °C-strength increased by 18.4%. Full article

The effects of seven constituent phases—CeNi₃, NdNi₃, Nd₂Ni₇, Pr₂Ni₇, Sm₅Ni₁₉, Nd₅Co₁₉, and CaCu₅—on the gaseous phase and electrochemical characteristics of a superlattice metal hydride alloy made by induction melting with a composition of Sm₁₄La_5.7Mg_4.0Ni₇₃Al_3.3 were studied through a series of annealing experiments. With an increase in annealing temperature, the abundance of non-superlattice CaCu₅ phase first decreases and then increases, which is opposite to the phase abundance evolution of Nd₂Ni₇—the phase with the best electrochemical performance. The optimal annealing condition for the composition in this study is 920 °C for 5 h. Extensive correlation studies reveal that the A₂B₇ phase demonstrates higher gaseous phase hydrogen storage and electrochemical discharge capacities and better battery performance in high-rate dischargeability, charge retention, and cycle life. Moreover, the hexagonal stacking structure is found to be more favorable than the rhombohedral structure. Full article