Carbon nanotubes via methane decomposition on an alumina supported cobalt aerogel catalyst

Abstract An alumina-supported cobalt aerogel catalyst prepared from a sol-gel and a supercritical drying method was used in the catalytic decomposition of methane. The physical-chemical properties of the catalyst were characterized and its activity for methane decomposition was investigated. The effects of calcination and reaction temperatures on the activity of the catalyst and the morphology of the carbon nanotubes produced were discussed. A CoAl 2 O 4 spinel structure formed in the calcined catalyst. The quantity of the nanotubes produced in the reaction increases with the amount of cobalt in the reduced catalyst. A higher reaction temperature leads to a higher reaction rate, though faster deactivation of the catalyst occurs with the change. The carbon nanotubes grown on the catalyst have smooth walls and uniform diameter distribution.

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