Articles

Magnetoelectric actuation is a burgeoning topic nowadays given the need for energy-efficient devices. Magnetoelectric actuation refers to the control of magnetic properties of materials using voltage. Several mechanisms contribute to the magnetoelectric response including surface charging, ionic migration (referred to as ‘magneto-ionics’), reduction/oxidation reactions, and ferroelectric/ferromagnetic coupling. In magneto-ionics, certain ions (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, or lithium) migrate within a material when an external voltage is applied. Since electric fields, rather than electric currents, drive ionic motion, this process is more energy efficient. Potential applications of magneto-ionics include magnetic memory devices, neuromorphic computing, and adaptive magnetic materials. Electrodeposited films, micro- and nanostructures are promising candidates for oxygen magneto-ionic investigations, particularly those with high surface-to-volume (S/V) ratios. Ferromagnetic Ni, Co and their alloys can be electrodeposited from aqueous solutions. It has been demonstrated that mesoporous Ni-Cu films with ultranarrow pore walls enable the entire film (and not just the utmost surface) to contribute...

Modeling materials from first principles, i.e., without the need to fit or depend on experimental data, has taken on great importance in the last twenty years. Such methodology allows a deeper understanding of the physico-chemical phenomena dictating how materials behave. Density-functional theory (DFT) has been the tool of choice for computing the properties of materials at the nanoscale for decades. Indeed, ground-state properties such as phase diagrams, magnetism, or band gaps (determining whether a material is an insulator, semiconductor, or metal) and structures as well as more advanced properties such as charge carrier mobilities, ionic conductivity, or light emission/absorption spectra are all reachable within DFT and its extensions.   Because such computations are very demanding, both in terms of CPU power and human efforts, in the last 15 years additional tools have been developed to handle hundreds of thousands of such calculations and store them efficiently in databases. For example, the Materials...

Electrodeposition plays a crucial role in the fabrication of advanced coatings and materials with tailored properties. Research on the electrochemical deposition of nickel-based alloys highlights its catalytic performance. Investigating the nucleation and growth mechanisms in Ni-based alloys deposition bridges the gap between fundamental electrochemistry and practical applications.   Defining New Electrochemical Reactions   One of the key challenges in Ni alloy electrodeposition is understanding the reduction mechanism of alloying element. Unlike nickel, which reduces directly, certain alloying elements undergo a more complex reduction process. Through electrochemical modeling, new reaction pathways were defined by summing multiple electrochemical reactions and optimizing the Butler-Volmer equations. This approach enables a more accurate description of the kinetic parameters governing the process.   AI-Powered Analysis of SEM Images   To quantify the nucleation behavior, the VUB AI tool was utilized for analyzing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. This AI-driven approach enables precise detection and measurement of nuclei, providing valuable insights into the effect of...

The transition from laboratory-scale research to pilot-scale production is a crucial phase in developing nickel coating technologies. While these coatings are expected to provide excellent corrosion resistance, durability, and conductivity, their large-scale production and application must be assessed for sustainability, economic feasibility, and regulatory compliance. Ensuring sustainability during this transition is essential to minimize environmental impact, optimize costs, and meet regulatory standards.   A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental footprint, focusing on raw material extraction, energy consumption, emissions, and waste management. Nickel production and electroplating are energy-intensive and generate hazardous by-products such as heavy metal waste and chemical effluents. Sustainable solutions, including closed-loop recycling, optimized plating baths, and eco-friendly alternatives, help mitigate these impacts. In addition, a Life Cycle Costing (LCC) Analysis assesses capital and operational costs, process efficiency, and market potential to ensure cost-effective scaling. Innovations such as low-energy deposition techniques and resource-efficient chemical formulations improve economic viability while...

Since the NICKEFFECT projects aims at replacing platinum catalyst based PEM Fuel Cell (FC) cathodes by porous graphite electrodes that are covered with nickel alloy (nano-)particles, the plating process for creating these nickel nuclei populations  must be properly understood and controlled.   Same as for Water Electrolysis (WE) cells, the use of porous electrodes allows creating a high surface to volume ratio.  The throwing power of a full coverage nickel alloy plating process into a porous structure as for example a carbon fiber cloth is limited (WE cathodes), and the same holds for a nucleation plating process into a porous carbon structure (FC cathodes).  But whereas the main specifications in case of a full coverage nickel alloy plating process for WE cathodes involve primarily the local plating layer thickness and alloy content, for FC cathodes practically all local characteristics of the nuclei population are of importance, involving nuclei density, nuclei size...