CATALYTICALLY GRAPHITIZED ELECTROSPUN CARBON NANOFIBERS ADORNED WITH NICKEL NANOPARTICLES FOR CATALYSIS APPLICATIONS

INTRODUCTION Supported metal catalysts are very important for energy and chemical industries to reduce consumption of raw materials and minimize waste production [1]. Supported nickel (Ni) catalysts have long been used in hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions and in steam reforming of hydrocarbons, due to their relatively high catalytic activity and cheapness [2]. Ni-based catalysts have also been ideally researched and used for the catalytic steam reforming of ethanol for hydrogen production due to the fact that as a clean and efficient energy, hydrogen is predicted to play an important role in future energy systems [3]. Thanks to their chemical inertness, controllable porosity and ARTICLE INFO. ABSTRACT