Nickel

Ni	28
Nickel

Abundance: ?% (Surface)

Nickel, periodic table Ni, is a metal that is useful as a catalyst and in alloys. It is solid at room temperatures, and has a silver color. Nickel is naturally alloyed with iron in meteoric iron.

Uses

Catalyst in Chemical Reactions

Nickel can be used as a catalyst in the following reactions:

• Reverse Water-Gas Shift Reaction
• Sabatier/Water Electrolysis Process

Energy Storage

Nickel is used in certain battery formulations, that may play a role for energy storage in a Martian settlement. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter uses two nickel-hydrogen batteries. Mariner 8, and Mariner 9, and Mariner 10, as well as both Voyager landers used nickel-cadmium batteries. Another battery type with nickel is the nickel–iron battery, which is very robust and durable, making it a good candidate for a stationary energy storage in a Martian settlement.