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The NICKEFFECT project has identified an opportunity to replace platinum group metals in key applications such as electrolysers fuel cell catalysts and magneto-electronic devices. The proposed alternative is based on nickel (Ni), an earth-abundant element with a ferromagnetic character.   Platinum group metals have unique characteristics (unreactive, resistant to corrosion, stable at high temperatures) that make them indispensable in different strategic sectors such as renewable energy, electric mobility and digital technologies. These properties make platinum group metals ideal as a catalyst for chemical and electrochemical reactions.   To replace platinum-coated electrodes by using a Nickel-based alternative, the electrodes should have a much higher active surface for reaching equivalent performance.  One way to achieve such an increased active surface is to create a porous micro-structure with a high surface-to-volume ratio. Indeed, the higher surface-to-volume ratio provided by the increased porosity will allow enhancing the catalytic performance or the Converse Magnetoelectric Effect (CME) in electronic devices....

Electrodeposition is an old technique with a blooming present and promising future. Indeed, the first steps of electrodeposition can be traced back to around 1800. It is an electrochemical process that allows the deposition of solid deposits on the surface of conductive materials, also called substrates. Although metal oxides, semiconductors, polymers, and even metal-organic frameworks can be grown by electrodeposition, it is mostly utilised for the preparation of metals and metal alloys via cathodic electrodeposition. Electrodeposition (or electroplating as it is widely known in the metal plating industry) has evolved from an art to an exact science thanks to the number of applications electrodeposited metallic materials possess. This is in part due to the immense possibilities that electrodeposition offers in terms of material dimensionality (thin and thick layers, nanowires, nanotubes, nanoparticles, etc.) and the fact that the set-up is rather simple and the process works at room pressure and often at...

Nickel is a versatile and essential catalyst in many chemical reactions. Its unique properties, including high reactivity, selectivity, and abundance, make it an attractive option for industrial- scale catalysis. From the refining of crude oil to the production of hydrogen, nickel catalysts play a vital role in many industries, driving progress towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.   Nickel catalysts are used in petroleum refining, where they help to break down complex hydrocarbons into simpler molecules that can be used to produce different chemicals, such as polyethylene, - a plastic used in various products, from bags to containers. Also, nickel catalysts are sometimes employed in the production of ammonia, methanol, and acetic acid.   One of the most important applications of nickel catalysts is in the production of hydrogen gas. Hydrogen is a clean and versatile fuel that can power fuel cells and combustion engines with zero emissions. Nickel catalysts are used in the production of...

  The new NICKEFFECT project – Ni-based ferromagnetic coatings with enhanced efficiency to replace Pt in energy & digital storage applications – held its kick-off meeting at the beginning of June 2022, hosted by CIDETEC, the project coordinators. The 12-partner multidisciplinary consortium team (CIDETEC, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsyca, IRES, ANSYS, Matgenix, CEA, Advanced Energy, Singulus Technologies, F6S and Asociación Española de Normalización) gathered for two days in San Sebastián, Spain.  The main focus of the meeting was to discuss in detail the objectives and work plan of this new 48-month project, co-funded by the European Commission. It was also a great opportunity for everyone to meet each other in person and establish a deeper personal connection.  During the first day and a half, all the partners presented the specific objectives of their Work Packages, as well as an initial plan on how and when to achieve the desired milestones and...

  NICKEFFECT, a new project co-funded by the European Commission's Horizon Europe programme, aims to develop novel ferromagnetic Ni-based coating materials to replace the scarce and costly Platinum and ensure high efficiency in key applications. Running from June 2022 until June 2026, the NICKEFFECT project is led by a consortium that is a multidisciplinary team comprised of 12 partners from 7 different EU and HEU associated countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom). It covers stakeholders of the whole project value chain: scientific and technology developers, technology providers, end-users, as well as transversal partners.   What are the main objectives of the project? NICKEFFECT will develop and bring to the market new solutions and tools for materials and process modelling, as well as for decision-making criteria to support the European industry. Among several impacts the project will create, its main objectives are to:  Synthesise ferromagnetic coating materials to replace Platinum as raw...