Growth of carbon nanofibers by the catalytic decomposition of methane over Ni-Cu/Al2O3 catalyst

Abstract

This paper shows that the catalytic decomposition of methane over Ni-Cu/Al2O3 catalyst at pressures of up to 5 bar leads to formation of carbon nanofibers of bamboo-like morphology with a “fish bone” structure with bridges inside the channel. When increasing the pressure, the change of textural characteristics of carbon nanofibers occurs. The surface area of carbon nanofibers increases from 130 to 166 m2/g, the volume of micropores grows from 0.005 to 0.014 cm3/g, the specific surface area of mesopores ranges from 117 to 137 m2/g at the pressure increase from 1 to 5 bar.