Japanese research team has produced nickel catalysts that have proven to be no less efficient in chemical catalysis than palladium. "Palladium" is a rare and expensive metal, of which Russia is the main global producer, followed by South Africa.
A Japanese study published in the European Chemistry Journal claims to have found a suitable alternative, which is “heterogeneous nanoparticles of nickel carbide,” and this alternative has been tested in the production of nylon and plastic. Heterogeneous catalyst showed four times greater activity, even though it works in. mild reaction conditions.