The carbonylation of nickel(2+) hydroxide in the presence of one or two equivalents of cyanide quantitatively yields nickel(0) cyano carbonyls: Ni0(CN)(CO)3- or Ni0(CN)2(CO)22-. Carbon monoxide is the reducing agent to reduce nickel(2+) to nickel(0) and it was converted to carbonate. Both nickel(0) cyano carbonyls are structurally characterized. Both complexes can react with oxygen gas and other oxidants readily to form nickel(2+) cyanide/hydroxide so that they can be used as carbon monoxide oxidation catalysts in basic solution. An initial kinetics study of carbon monoxide oxidation by oxygen gas was performed and the rate law suggested that the catalyzed carbon monoxide oxidation was first order on oxygen partial pressure. A very crude fuel cell was constructed to demonstrate the feasibility of a carbon monoxide powered alkaline flow battery type fuel cell.

Oxidation of carbon monoxide in basic solution catalyzed by nickel cyano carbonyls at ambient condition and the prototype of a CO-powered alkaline flow battery type fuel cell

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.