Structure and Energy Profile of the Skeletal Nickel Surface According to the Small-Angle X-Ray Diffraction and Adsorption Calorimetry Data

A systematic study of the surface of Raney nickel-based pyrophoric catalysts by small-angle X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out for the first time. The parameters of the crystallites constituting the active catalyst surface were determined. A correlation between the surface structure and the activity of skeletal nickel for the liquid-phase hydrogenation reactions was demonstrated. The effect of treatment of Ni–Al alloy with sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide on the catalyst particle size and on the course of the hydrogenation reaction was revealed and substantiated. The X-ray diffraction data on the catalyst surface structure and the adsorption calorimetry data were correlated with the skeletal nickel activity parameters.