CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF NANOSTRUCTURED HYDROGEN STORAGE NICKEL PARTICLES WITH CERIUM SHELL STRUCTURE

In this paper we examine a new kind of nanostructured nickel particle with cerium shell structure prepared by the hydrogen are plasma method . The microstructural analysis of nano-Ni particles showed that the sh ell layer consisted of CeNi alloys and cerium oxide. The hydrogen stor age property of the nanoparticles was investigated by mass spectroscop y The results showed that the quantity of hydrogen released gradually increased with increasing temperature up to a maximum of 400 degrees C , then gradually decreased at temperatures above 400 degrees C. The ca talytic activity of nanoparticles in the gasphase hydrogenation of ben zene was related to their hydrogen storage properties and it reached t he maximum value when the maximum amount of bulk H was released. By co mparing the catalytic activity of nano-Ni particles with and without C e shell structure, the higher activity of nano-Ni with Ce shell,vas at tributed to the property of hydrogen storage and the synergistic effec t of Ce and Ni in the shell structure, which was also illustrated by t he result of gas phase benzene hydrogenation over supported nano-NiCe particles.