Investigation of the decomposition and reduction of “nickel peroxide” by thermal analysis

Abstract

The decomposition in air and the reduction by hydrogen of commercial “nickel peroxide” has been investigated by thermal analysis (d.t.a. and t.g.a.). It is probably Ni2O3· 2H2O: on heating in air, it loses water between 320 and 420 K to give Ni2O3· H2O [i.e, NiO(OH)] and subsequently decomposes to NiO. Reduction of Ni2O3· H2O appears to proceed via 2NiO · H2O which is subsequently dehydrated and reduced to Ni. The reduction of Ni2O3· 2H2O, and of Ni(OH)2, begins before dehydration.