Synthesis of Mg2Ni nanoparticles in a KCl-NaCl-MgCl2 melt

The reaction between magnesium and nickel powders in a KCl-NaCl-MgCl2 ionic melt at 970 K (reaction time, 5 h) has been studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and chemical analysis. According to scanning electron microscopy data, the synthesized Mg2Ni powder consists of particles 70–75 nm in size, in reasonable agreement with the equivalent particle diameter, ≃ 64 nm, determined from the specific surface area of the Mg2Ni powder and with the crystallite size, Dhkl ≃ 65 nm, evaluated from X-ray diffraction data. The hydrogen sorption properties of the Mg2Ni obtained in a KCl-NaCl-MgCl2 ionic melt are identical to those of Mg2Ni powder prepared by a standard method, but the former reacts with hydrogen far more rapidly.