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10101-97-0
futurechemical
10101-97-0
Nickel sulfate hexahydrate, also known as nickel sulfate hexahydrate, nickel sulfate, or nickel alum, is the most common hydrated crystalline form of nickel sulfate. Its chemical formula is usually written as:
NiSO4·6H2O (CAS No.: 10101-97-0, molecular weight approximately 262.85)
It is a blue to blue-green crystal at room temperature (there are two variants: the blue tetragonal α-type and the green monoclinic β-type). It is readily soluble in water (about 625 grams dissolve per liter of water at 20°C), and its aqueous solution is weakly acidic. It is also soluble in ethanol and ammonia. It slowly effloresces and loses water in dry air, and begins to lose its water of crystallization when heated to about 103°C.
Compositionally, nickel sulfate hexahydrate consists of one nickel ion (Ni2+), one sulfate ion (SO4²-), and six water molecules of crystallization. The nickel ion possesses a unique electronic structure and catalytic activity, serving as both an "energy carrier" in battery cathode materials and an "active center" in nickel-based catalysts. This is the structural basis for its widespread application in new energy, catalysis, and chemical industries beyond electroplating.
Chemically, nickel sulfate hexahydrate dissociates into nickel ions and sulfate ions in aqueous solution. The nickel ions can form coordination compounds with ammonia, cyanides, etc.; it reacts with alkalis to form nickel hydroxide precipitate, and with carbonates to form nickel carbonate. It must be stored in a sealed, moisture-proof container to prevent efflorescence in dry air.
Non-electroplating grade nickel sulfate hexahydrate refers to products used for industrial applications other than electroplating, mainly including battery grade, catalyst grade, and reagent grade specifications. Compared with electroplating grade, non-electroplating grade products focus more on the following indicators:
Main content and nickel content
The nickel content (generally not less than 22% based on Ni) of battery-grade nickel sulfate directly determines the energy density of ternary cathode materials, and high purity is required.
Impurity metal ions (copper, iron, zinc, cobalt, calcium, magnesium, lead, etc.)
Battery-grade batteries have extremely strict impurity control requirements: impurities such as copper, iron, zinc, cobalt, calcium, magnesium, and lead can affect the electrochemical performance of cathode materials and battery safety, and the limits are more comprehensive than those for electroplating-grade batteries.
Water-insoluble matter
Water-insoluble matter affects the uniformity of precursor synthesis and catalyst activity, and needs to be controlled at extremely low levels.
pH and aqueous solution stability
The aqueous solution must be clear and transparent with a stable pH to ensure the reproducibility of precursor co-precipitation and catalyst preparation.
Color and crystal form
Uniform color (blue-green) and stable crystal morphology are the basic appearance criteria for judging reliable quality.
Battery-grade nickel sulfate is a core raw material for the precursor of nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) and nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) ternary lithium battery cathode materials. The nickel content directly determines the battery energy density, making it a key upstream material for new energy vehicles and energy storage industries. It is also used in the preparation of nickel-metal hydride battery electrode materials.
Nickel sulfate is an important raw material for the preparation of nickel-based catalysts (such as Raney nickel and other hydrogenation catalysts). Nickel catalysts are widely used in reactions such as oil and fat hydrogenation, organic synthesis, and petrochemicals, and are important "accelerators" in chemical production.
Nickel sulfate is a basic raw material for the production of other nickel compounds (such as nickel chloride, nickel carbonate, nickel hydroxide, nickel oxide, nickel ammonium sulfate, etc.), and is a pivotal product in the nickel salt chemical industry chain, supporting the entire nickel fine chemical system.
Nickel sulfate can be used as a mordant in the printing and dyeing industry to help dyes adhere to fibers and improve color fastness. It can also be used as a metal colorant for coloring metal surfaces.
Nickel sulfate is a commonly used nickel standard reagent in chemical analysis. It is used for the determination of nickel content and the preparation of standard solutions. It is also used as a standard substance for magnetic susceptibility calibration and is a routine reagent in analytical laboratories and research institutions.
Nickel salts can be used in metal surface coloring and blackening processes, and the production chain of some daily-use metal products may indirectly involve nickel compounds.
Nickel sulfate can be used as a mordant in the printing and dyeing industry to help dyes adhere to fibers. The printing and dyeing process of some fabrics we wear may indirectly involve nickel salts, and the nickel content in the finished product must meet the textile safety standards.
(1) Functional nickel plating
Nickel plating utilizes the high hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of nickel layers for the repair and protection of mechanical parts and molds; barrel plating is suitable for mass nickel plating of small parts such as screws, washers, and springs, with uniform plating and high production efficiency.
(2) Electroless nickel plating
Electroless nickel plating, using nickel sulfate as the main salt and sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent, can deposit a uniform nickel-phosphorus alloy coating on the surface of precision and complex workpieces without an external current. The coating is uniform in thickness, corrosion-resistant, and wear-resistant, and is widely used in precision machinery, hard disks, aerospace, and electronics.
(3) Multi-layer nickel-chromium protective and decorative system
Automobiles and high-end hardware use a multi-layer nickel plating system of "semi-bright nickel + bright nickel + high-sulfur nickel + chromium". The potential difference between different plating layers is used to significantly improve corrosion resistance. Electroplating grade nickel sulfate is the common nickel source for each nickel layer.
( 4) Decorative nickel plating (bright nickel plating, core application)
Watt's plating solution (nickel sulfate + nickel chloride + boric acid), with nickel sulfate as the main nickel salt, is the most widely used nickel plating system. Combined with brighteners, it can achieve a mirror-like bright nickel layer, and is widely used for decoration and protection of bathroom hardware, eyeglass frames, jewelry, tableware, and home appliances.
( 5) Other systems such as zinc-nickel alloy electroplating
Nickel sulfate can also be used in zinc-nickel alloy electroplating. The corrosion resistance of zinc-nickel alloy coatings (with a nickel content of about 6% to 20%) is more than three times higher than that of zinc coatings of the same thickness. It is widely used in fields such as automobiles and aviation where corrosion resistance is extremely important.
Using the principle of electrodeposition, a nickel layer is electroformed onto a mold using a nickel sulfate electroplating solution. This is used to manufacture precision molds, screens, corrugated pipes, and other micro-structural parts, representing a high-end application of electroplating-grade nickel sulfate.
Electroplating-grade nickel sulfate is also used in the initial preparation of nickel plating solutions and the replenishment of nickel ions during the production process. In combination with nickel chloride, boric acid and various additives, it helps maintain the long-term stable operation of the plating solution.
With the development of the new energy and new materials industries, the application fields of non-electroplated nickel sulfate are constantly expanding, including nickel-based pigments, ceramic glaze coloring, and nickel extraction raw materials from battery recycling.
Nickel sulfate hexahydrate (nickel sulfate hexahydrate, nickel alum) is a blue to blue-green easily soluble crystalline salt and one of the most important intermediate products in the nickel industry chain. In daily life, we indirectly come into contact with it through lithium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, chemical and food industries, textile printing and dyeing, and laboratory testing. In non-electroplating applications, battery-grade, catalyst-grade, and reagent-grade nickel sulfate hexahydrate are widely used as raw materials for ternary lithium battery cathode precursors, nickel-based catalysts, basic raw materials for nickel salt chemicals, printing and dyeing mordants, and analytical chemical reagents. It is a core nickel chemical connecting "daily use" with "new energy, chemical industry, and scientific research."
