100 Years of Raney Ni Catalyst

Raney Ni, a porous Ni catalyst derived from alkali-leached Ni-Al alloy, has anchored itself in the field of catalysis for a century since its 1924 invention by Raney. Its dual merits-high activity and in situ hydrogen storage-enable applications in various fields. This review condenses its evolution: from alloy design to functional tailoring via doping/milling, emphasizing structure-activity correlations and sustainable chemistry impacts. Despite its long-standing utility, comprehensive reviews on Raney Ni's century-long evolution have been scarce. This review systematically summarizes its development-from discovery and preparation refinement to performance modification and application expansion-highlighting its enduring role in catalysis and providing insights for future sustainable material research.