Carbon-encapsulated Ni catalysts are synthesized by an electrical explosion of wires (EEW) method and applied for CO2 methanation. We find that the presence of carbon shell on Ni nanoparticles as catalyst can positively affect CO2 methanation reaction. Ni@5C that is produced under 5% CH4 partial pressure in Ar gas has highest conversions of 68 % at 350 oC and 70% at 400 oC, which are 73 and 75% of the thermodynamic equilibrium conversion, respectively. The catalyst of Ni@10C with thicker carbon layer shows much reduced activity. The EEW-produced Ni catalysts with low specific surface area outperform Ni catalysts with high surface area synthesized by solution-based precipitation methods. Our finding in this study shows the possibility of utilizing carbon-encapsulated metal catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis reaction including CO2 methanation. Furthermore, EEW, which is a highly promising method for massive production of metal nanoparticles, can be applied for various catalysis system, requiring scaled-up synthesis of catalysts.

Ag-Cu alloy nano powders were fabricated by the electrical explosion of Cu-plated Ag wires. Ag wires of 0.2mm diameter was electroplated to final diameter of 0.220 mm and 0.307 mm which correspond to Ag-27Cu and Ag-68Cu alloy. The explosion product consisted of equilibrium phases of and -Cu. The particle size of Ag-Cu nano powders were 44 nm and 70 nm for 0.220 mm and 0.307 mm wires, respectively. The Ag-Cu nano powders contained less Cu than average value due to higher sublimation energy compared to that of Ag. As a result, micron-sized spherical particles formed from liquid droplets contained higher Cu content.

The passivation and oxidation process of tungsten and molybdenum narlopowders, produced by electrical explosion of wires was studied by means of FE-SEM, XPS. XRD, TEM, DIA-TGA and sire distribution analysis. In addition, the phase transformation of W and Mo nanopowders under oxidation in air was investigated. A chemical process is suggested for the oxidation of W and Mo nano-particles after a comprehensive testing of passivated and oxidized powders.

Phase contents and elemental composition of ultradispersed powders obtained by the electrical explosion of tin-leadalloy powders are investigated. It is demonstrated that during the explosion and subsequent cooling, surface layers of powder particles are enriched in lead compared to the initial alloy. The thermal stability of powders oxidizing in air is also investigated.