Catalytic filamentous carbon as supports for nickel catalysts

Abstract Ni catalysts supported on catalytic filamentous carbon (CFC) were studied in the model reaction of methane decomposition at 525 °C. The supports (CFC) were synthesized by decomposition of methane over metal catalysts (Ni, Ni–Cu, Co and Fe–Co–alumina) at 500–675 °C. The yield of secondary carbon was shown to reach 224 g/g Ni on the Ni/CFC (Ni–Cu, 625 °C) catalyst. The stability and activity of the Ni/CFC catalysts for deposition of the secondary carbon at 525 °C depend both on textural properties of the support and on the surface structure of the CFC filaments. It seems that highly porous carbon supports are more suitable for development of Ni/CFC catalyst for methane decomposition. The catalytic properties of the supported Ni/CFC systems may be accounted for by generation of weak dispersive interactions between specifically shaped Ni crystallites 30–70 nm in size and basal planes on the surface of the carbon filament.