In order to accommodate an increasing demand for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with desirable characteristics one has to understand the origin of helicity of their structures. Here, through in situ microscopy we demonstrate that the nucleation of a carbon nanotube is initiated by the formation of the carbon cap. Nucleation begins with the formation of a graphene embryo that is bound between opposite ...

For the first time, noble-metal-free nickel phosphide (Ni2P) was used as an excellent catalyst precursor for water oxidation catalysis. The lowest onset potential was observed at ∼1.54 V (vs. RHE) and a Tafel slope of 60 mV dec(-1) was obtained in alkaline solution (pH = 13.6).

We have developed a nickel-catalyzed transformation, in which phthalimides react with trimethylsilyl-substituted alkynes in the presence of Ni(0)/PMe3/MAD catalyst to provide isoindolinones. The reaction process displays an unusual mechanistic feature-decarbonylation and alkylidenation. The use of both trimethylsilyl-substiuted alkynes and MAD was found to be essential for the transformation wi...

We demonstrate the covalent attachment and catalytic function of a nickel-phosphine H2 evolution catalyst to a p-Si(111) photoelectrode. The covalently assembled semiconductor|molecular construct achieves a synergistic improvement (ΔVonset = +200 mV) as compared to a solution of [(PNP)2Ni](2+) in contact with a p-Si(111)-CH3 photoelectrode.

NiMnO3 was found to be an efficient catalyst for light-driven water oxidation using [Ru(bpy)3](2+) and S2O8(2-) as a photosensitiser and a sacrificial oxidant, respectively. NiMnO3 exhibited remarkably high catalytic activity in comparison with manganese oxides and nickel oxide. For electrochemical water oxidation, the highest catalytic current was also obtained with NiMnO3 among the manganese ...

The azanickellacyclic complex (1) produced by trimerization of an isocyanide on the nickel atom is found to be a new ethylene polymerization catalyst; catalytic activity is increased by incorporation of the second metal to a diimino moiety of 1 leading to formation of heterobimetallic complexes.

Nickel-catalyzed intermolecular allylic substitution of simple alkenes (ethylene and alpha olefins) is described. This method is the first catalytic intermolecular process for direct allylation of nonconjugated, nonstrained simple alkenes. Catalyst loadings as low as 2.5 mol % Ni afford the desired product in high yield in both gram-scale and smaller scale coupling reactions.

Carbon nanotubes have been explored as interconnects in solid acid fuel cells to improve the link between nanoscale Pt catalyst particles and macroscale current collectors. The nanotubes were grown by chemical vapor deposition on carbon paper substrates, using nickel nanoparticles as the catalyst, and were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The composite el...

A low-cost, solution-processed, versatile, microfluidic approach is developed for patterning structures of highly conductive metals (e.g., copper, silver, and nickel) on chemically modified flexible polyethylene terephthalate thin films by in situ polymer-assisted electroless metal deposition. This method has significantly lowered the consumption of catalyst as well as the metal plating solution.

Approach • Develop a methodology that provides high-throughput fabrication and analyses of novel alloy materials of arbitrary composition. • Evaluate multi-component alloys consisting of platinum, ruthenium, nickel and zirconium that are corrosion-resistant in acid for catalytic activity. • Analyze results of polarization studies to develop a rationale for catalyst performance. • Evaluate promi...