Effect of Sm Addition on Ni–MgO Catalysts for the Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes via Methane Decomposition

Abstract

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been synthesized over Ni–MgO and Ni–Sm–Mg catalysts by decomposition of CH4 at 923 K. The addition of Sm into Ni–MgO catalyst promotes its catalytic activity and lifetime. The yield of CNTs obtained over the optimized Ni–Sm–Mg catalyst reaches 1260 wt % relative to the weight of the catalyst, which is more than 4 times that of the Ni–MgO catalyst. The possible interaction between Sm and Ni species is discussed.