Synthesis and characterisation of carbon nanofibres with macroscopic shaping formed by catalytic decomposition of C 2H 6/H 2 over nickel catalyst

Abstract

Carbon nanofibres composites with macroscopic shaping were successfully synthesised by chemical vapour decomposition (CVD) using a low loading in nickel as catalyst (≤1 wt.%). A high carbon nanofibres yield, i.e. 100 wt.% weight gain per hour of synthesis with respect to the initial catalyst weight was obtained, which significantly lowered the synthesis cost while the direct macroscopic shaping rendered more reliable the applications of these materials in conventional catalytic processes.