News Archives — NICKEFFECT

02 Oct

Mitigating the chemical risk in R&D projects: how to ensure workers safety?

The chemical risk is a combination of hazard and exposure. Once the risk is assessed, either reducing the hazard or the level of exposure should mitigated it. In occupational health and safety, the "STOP principle" is applied. It defines the hierarchy of protective measures and groups them. The abbreviation STOP stands for Substitution, Technical measures, Organizational and Personal protective equipment. Substitution approach Eliminating or reducing risks before they are introduced into the workplace is the most effective way of a mitigation management. Both products and processes could be safe-by design. For example it is possible to replace hazardous substance by less hazardous, to replace powders by pellets or to replace manual by automatic process… Technical (engineering) control Installing technical control will remove the hazard at the source, before the workers are exposed. It is a very reliable way to control exposure as long as they are well-designed, used, and maintained. For example, it is...

02 Oct

Using computational quantum chemistry to understand how materials behave

by Laura Cyrne

in Articles, News

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Materials selection is at the heart of the NICKEFFECT project. Replacing Pt-group metals with Ni is far from trivial. Materials with new compositions, structures, and topologies have to be explored and their physical and chemical properties need to be assessed. Traditionally, this exploration has been performed experimentally: a material is first synthesized and then tested in a lab to check whether it fulfills the requirements related to its application. This approach is long, requires resources, and can lead to failure at any step of the process. The scientist iterates through materials until a good solution is found, through trial and error or serendipity. Fortunately, in the last few decades, computational tools have reached a maturity where the stability and physical properties of materials can be predicted before synthesizing them. These tools rely on density-functional theory (DFT) or more recently on machine learning (ML) when data is available. Such computations are not...

28 Aug

Validated 3D alloy plating simulations for porous structures based on the multi-ion transport and reaction model

by Laura Cyrne

in Articles, News

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In recent decades, both Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Elsyca have independently developed multiple software tools for simulating Multi-Ion Transport and Reaction (MITRe) models. Originally utilized by VUB for corrosion-related simulations, the MITRem code has been revitalized under the NICKEFFECT project. It is now geared towards microscopic 3D electrodeposition simulations of porous structures. Additionally, various single-metal and alloy plating processes have been successfully modelled. The workflow for MITRe model simulations involves several key steps. Initially, there's a need to identify the relevant species present in the electrolyte, followed by establishing a plausible electrode reaction mechanism. Subsequently, obtaining relevant kinetic parameters for the electrode reactions involved in the plating process is essential. Within the framework of the NICKEFFECT project, this was accomplished for a nickel alloy plating process of interest by retrofitting polarization curves using Elsyca PIRoDE software. These curves were based on polarization experiments conducted at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)...

17 Jul

Advancing Ferromagnetic Research at ICM2024

by Laura Cyrne

in Articles, News

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Aitor Arredondo and Jordi Sort from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, NICKEFFECT’s project partners, participated at the 22nd International Conference on Magnetism (ICM2024) in Bologna Congress Center. This event is the largest gathering of the magnetism community worldwide and promises to showcase the resilience and excellence of the field, from fundamental research to innovative applications. At ICM2024, Aitor Arredondo and Jordi Sort presented their work titled "Composition-dependent voltage-driven OFF-ON switching of ferromagnetism in Co-Ni oxide microdisks.” This research represents a significant advancement in the field of magnetism, exploring innovative methods to manipulate ferromagnetic properties through compositional changes and applied voltage. The presentation highlighted the intricacies of OFF-ON ferromagnetism switching in Co-Ni oxide microdisks. The ability to control ferromagnetic states with precision opens new windows for applications in data storage, spintronics, and magnetic sensing technologies. Attendees expressed a strong interest in the technical aspects of the work, wanting to know more about the mechanisms...

11 Jul

NICKEFFECT Project Showcases at AI4AM 2024

by Laura Cyrne

in Articles, News

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The NICKEFFECT project participated in the Artificial Intelligence for Advanced Materials Conference (AI4AM 2024), held from July 2nd to 4th in the city of Barcelona, Spain. This cross-disciplinary international event brought together top experts from industry and research institutions who utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance discoveries in materials science. The conference's main goal is to refine automated designs for both structural and electronic material models in engineering, focusing on improving interoperability among material databases and enabling reverse material engineering. Konrad Eiler, from NICKEFFECT's project partner Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, did a presentation on the active learning approach used to accelerate experiments as part of the project. Konrad gave some insights on the practical benefits of the Active Learning methodology in guiding experimentalists to find the best conditions for growing Ni-W films for catalysis. Active Learning in Materials Science Konrad's presentation highlighted how AI, particularly Active Learning, significantly aids experimentalists in determining optimal...

21 Jun

NICKEFFECT General Assembly Meeting: the main updates that mark the middle of the project

by Laura Cyrne

in Articles, News

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The NICKEFFECT consortium got together for the 5th General Assembly meeting on June 13-14, 2024, at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. This gathering marked the midpoint of the 48-month project, bringing together all partners for two full days of updates, discussions, and strategic planning. The meeting focused on a series of presentations that provided a comprehensive overview of the project's progress. Key presentations included: Project Management and Coordination Sustainable-by-Design approach Advancements in developing Coating Materials with tuned porosity and characterization Modelling of Electrodeposition Process Upscale of the production processes, deposition on demonstrators Dissemination, Exploitation, and Guiding & Standardization Materials validation in relevant environments The General Assembly also counted with an exciting visit to the laboratories at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona's science faculty. Attendees had the opportunity to observe innovative research facilities and ongoing experiments related to the NICKEFFECT project. As the meeting concluded, the partners had a clear roadmap for the next...

23 May

Guidelines for a Greener Future: Assessing Safety and Sustainability by Design

by Laura Cyrne

in Articles, News

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In the evolving landscape of development for new chemicals and materials, the principles of safety and sustainability have become paramount. Innovations need to be driven not only by the requirement for an effective function of new products, but also towards minimizing the harm to both human health and the environment. This is evidenced by a gradual shift from the traditional considerations of “Safe by Design” and “Sustainable by Design” towards a new, holistic approach: the concept of “Safe and Sustainable by Design” (SSbD). SSbD aims to integrate safety and sustainability concerns from the inception of a new chemical or material, and, in an iterative approach, along the innovation pathway towards commercialization. To ensure the adoption of safety and sustainability criteria, and the implementation of the SSbD approach in a standardized manner, the European Commission and Joint Research Center have developed an SSbD framework, offering detailed guidance on the methodology and appropriate...

23 May

Unlocking the Secrets of temperature in Electrodeposition

by Laura Cyrne

in Articles, News

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Temperature plays a crucial role in electrodeposition processes, influencing both the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reaction. As temperature increases, the rate of electrodeposition generally accelerates due to enhanced mass transport of ions to the electrode surface and increased reaction kinetics. Additionally, higher temperatures often lead to changes in the morphology, structure, and composition of the deposited material, affecting its properties such as adhesion, density, and crystallinity. However, the effect of temperature on electrodeposition can be complex, as excessive heat may also promote side reactions, electrolyte decomposition, or changes in the electrode surface, potentially leading to poor-quality deposits or altered electrochemical behavior. Thus, optimizing temperature conditions is essential for controlling the quality, uniformity, and properties of electrodeposited coatings and films. Through collaboration with our partners and leveraging machine learning (ML) techniques, we identified the optimal temperature for electrodeposition processes. Subsequently, we embarked on physics-based modeling efforts to understand the intricate relationship...

29 Apr

Introducing the 4SEE Cluster

by Laura Cyrne

in 4SEE Cluster, Articles, News

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In a period where sustainability is crucial, innovative solutions are necessary for establishing a safer and more sustainable future. And the 4SEE Cluster was born with this premise – a dynamic collaboration between 4 different projects, funded under the HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01-12 topic, that aim to revolutionise metallic coatings and engineered surfaces for the European economy. NICKEFFECT, FreeMe, MOZART, and NOUVEAU are the members of this cluster that is set to redefine industry standards, and drive innovation. The 4SEE Cluster is a collaborative initiative focusing on safe and sustainable-by-design metallic coatings and engineered surfaces. By combining resources, expertise, and knowledge, the cluster aims to address shared challenges, enhance collaboration, and accelerate progress towards safer and more sustainable solutions. Central to the cluster's strategy are joint communication and dissemination activities. These efforts include organising workshops, webinars, and other events to share insights, foster dialogue, and promote the adoption of sustainable practices. By bringing together resources...

29 Apr

Organic additives in nickel and nickel alloy electrodeposition

by Laura Cyrne

in Articles, News

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The impact of additives on aqueous metal electrodeposition has fascinated the electroplating community for several decades. Additives can be classified into organic and inorganic compounds. The former are most common as they act as hydrogen permeation inhibitors, crystal growth modifiers, brighteners, levellers, wetting agents, and stress relievers. Even if added to the electrolyte in small amounts, their effect on coatings’ morphology and structure is remarkable, often without changing their chemical composition. For example, saccharine, a well-known sweetener to sprinkle onto food or added to coffee, is a typical grain-refining agent in metal electrodeposition. Saccharine is thus widely used in nickel plating as a brightener. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is also added to nickel electrolytes to reduce surface roughness, refine grains, and promote twinning. In turn, the mechanical properties of the resulting coatings such as hardness greatly improve. Caution must be taken, though, regarding the incorporation of sulphur and carbon impurities that...

News

Mitigating the chemical risk in R&D projects: how to ensure workers safety?

Using computational quantum chemistry to understand how materials behave

Validated 3D alloy plating simulations for porous structures based on the multi-ion transport and reaction model

Advancing Ferromagnetic Research at ICM2024

NICKEFFECT Project Showcases at AI4AM 2024

NICKEFFECT General Assembly Meeting: the main updates that mark the middle of the project

Guidelines for a Greener Future: Assessing Safety and Sustainability by Design

Unlocking the Secrets of temperature in Electrodeposition

Introducing the 4SEE Cluster

Organic additives in nickel and nickel alloy electrodeposition

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