Doping effects of manganese on the catalytic performance and structure of NiMgO catalysts for controllabe synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Doping effects of manganese (Mn) on catalytic performance and structure evolution of NiMgO catalysts for synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) from methane were investigated for the first time. Addition of Mn in NiMgO catalyst can greatly improve the MWCNTs yield. Mn0.2NiMgO catalyst among the tested ones gives the highest MWCNTs yield as 2244%, which is two times higher than that of the catalyst without Mn. The structure evolution, reduction behaviors and surface chemical properties of MnNiMgO catalysts with various Mn contents were studied in detail. It was found that the stable solid solution of NiMgO2 formed in NiMgO catalyst was disturbed by the addition of Mn. Instead, another solid solution of MnMg6O8 is formed. More amount of Ni can be reduced and dispersed on the catalyst surface to be acted as active sites. Importantly, the changes of Ni content on the surface are correlated with the Ni particle size and the outer diameter of MWCNTs, suggesting the controllable synthesis of MWCNTs over MnNiMgO catalysts.