Ce-Ni nanoparticles with shell structure for hydrogen storage

A new kind of Ce-Ni nanoparticle was prepared by hydrogen arc plasma method. The nanoparticles consist of a large Ni core and a thin outer shell of CeNi alloy and CeO2. A large quantity of hydrogen was stored in the particles, which was released at about 400 degrees C. The particles possess a lot of defects, dislocations and twin faults, which increase the number of surface active centers of the particles. The mechanism of shell structure formation of the nanoparticles is discussed in terms of the low solubility of Ce in Ni, and surface segregation under non-equilibrium cooling conditions.