Carbon Nanofibers Grown <i>In Situ </i>on Porous Glass

Abstract

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were grown in situ on porous glass at different temperatures and times using a Ni acetate catalyst and CH4/N2 as a carbon source. The porous glass was obtained by acid leaching of phase separated borosilicate glass, which generates a broad size distribution of mesopores (≈20 nm). Subsequent impregnation with Ni acetate reduces the pore size to ≈ 4 nm but also creates new micropores, thus increasing the surface area. During thermal treatment the surface area decreases as temperature rises, mainly due to shrinkage of the glassy matrix; however new pores are created at ≈ 70 nm (mainly at 600 oC) associated to the generation of CNFs on the glass surface, indicating this temperature offers the best conditions. The CNFs grow inside and fill in the micro-mesopores in the porous glass. They do not grow at 500 oC as the Ni acetate is not transformed into metallic Ni. Ni deactivation occurs at temperatures over 700 oC, thus reducing the formation of CNFs. At 1000 oC the degradation of CH4 leads to a thickening of the CNFs. The thermal degradation of the CNFs occurs in two steps, the first (360-416oC) corresponding to CNFs grown on the glass surface and the second (518-649oC) to CNFs grown inside the glass pores. Treatment times over 2 h lead to the deactivation of Ni, pore shrinkage and hence lower CNF yields.