Factors Determining the Catalytic Activity of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes in the Decomposition of Diacyl Peroxides in Non-aqueous Media (DPDec)

Abstract

The catalytic activity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) with different surface chemistry was investigated in the decomposition of benzoyl and lauroyl peroxides (BP and LP respectively) at room temperature in non-aqueous media. Calculated diffusion coefficients (D eff ) indicate that catalysis is not limited by internal diffusion. CNT demonstrate a moderate catalytic activity that ordering in the raw: N-CNT > CNTini > CNTox. Surface chemistry analysis displays the dependence of catalytic ability of CNT on their surface electron donor properties. Operation stability experiments and TPD–MS analysis reveal that reactions proceeding via the single electron transfer (SET) mechanism.