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.