Synthesis of nickel nanoparticles and the study of its catalytic performance

The nickel nanoparticles with high catalytic activity was prepared from aqueous solutions without surfactants or dispersants by an improved chemical reduction with the addition of a self-made reduction accessory M-1 as an ingredient. The prepared nickel nanoparticle catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), MasterSizer 2000, EDS microanalysis. The experimental results show that the prepared nickel particles are pure cubic crystallite with average particle size of 57 nm. In comparison with Raney-Ni, the prepared nickel catalyst exhibited higher catalytic activity. The hydrogenation rate of fresh IP-Ni was calculated, which was 5 times higher than that of the fresh CV-Ni, and 16 times higher than that of fresh Raney-Ni. The addition of the self-made M-1 during preparing procedure could reduce the grain size and improve the catalytic activity of the prepared nickel nanoparticles.