Nickel

Nickel • Transition Metal

Primary XPS region: Ni2p
Overlapping regions: Fe LMM
Binding energies of common chemical states:

Chemical state	Binding energy Ni2p_3/2
Ni metal	852.6 eV
NiO	853.7 eV
Ni(OH)₂	855.6 eV

Experimental information

Nickel oxide is readily reduced by Ar⁺ sputtering.
- Use lowest possible ion beam energy when attempting to clean oxide sample surface or during depth profiling.
  - Minimizes (but does not completely prevent) reduction effect.

Interpretation of XPS spectra

Ni2p peak has significantly split spin-orbit components (Δ_metal=17.3eV).
Ni metal spectrum has complex shape.
- Mixture of core level and satellite features.
- Satellite features not to be confused with oxidized nickel peaks.

Ni compounds can also have complex, multiplet-split peaks.

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Table of elements

About this element

Symbol: Ni
Date of discovery: 1751
Name origin: German kupfernickel
Appearance: white
Discoverer: Axel Fredrik Cronstedt
Obtained from: pentlandite

Melting point: 1728 K
Boiling point: 3186 K
Density[kg/m³]: 8908
Molar volume: 6.59 × 10^-6 m³/mol
Protons/Electrons: 28
Neutrons: 31
Shell structure: 2,8,16,2
Electron configuration: [Ar]3d84s2
Oxidation state: 2,3
Crystal structure: cubic face centered

The consumption of nickel can be traced back to 3500 BC. The majority of the supply of nickel is believed to be located in the Earth’s core, while Canada, Russia, New Caledonia, Australia, Cuba, and Indonesia house accessible deposits of nickel. Most of the nickel consumed in the Western World is used to make austenitic stainless steel. Nickel steel is used for armor plates and vaults. Nickel is also used in the five-cent coins in the United States and Canada (called nickels). It also makes up crucibles that are used in chemical laboratories. One of its isotopes, nickel-56, is produced in type II supernova. The light curve of the supernova is associated with the decay of nickel-56 to cobalt-56 and then to iron-56. Nickel sulfide fume and dust is believed to be carcinogenic and nickel carbonyl gas is extremely toxic.

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