Abstract:
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were successfully synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition of ethylene over cobalt supported alumina in fluidized-bed. The effects of temperature and ethylene molar fraction on MWNTs formation and MWNTs quality were studied. Quantitative analysis results indicated that reaction temperature is crucial for solid carbon conversion and MWNTs selectivity. Amorphous carbon and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were obtained as main products at reaction temperature of 550 oC. Ethylene molar fraction also affected MWNTs production. Ethylene molar fraction of 0.63 led to the presence of amorphous carbon as a main product and caused the catalyst deactivation. MWNTs productivity reached the highest value of 0.45 gC/gcata at temperature of 600 oC, ethylene molar fraction of 0.50, weight of catalyst 20 g and 60 minutes of duration. In terms of quality, increasing reaction temperature resulted in the better graphitized MW NTs. The average diameters of synthesized MWNTs was approximately 7 nm for all conditions tested. The analysis of effluent gas indicated that ethane could decompose to form MWNTs at the temperature above 650 oC whereas methane did not react over the temperature range tested. The kinetic parameters namely pre-exponential coefficient and activation energy of MWNTs synthesis were found to be 13.21 gC/gcata/min and 65.3 kJ/mol, respectively. The activation energy of MWNTs formation matches well with that of carbon diffusion in liquid cobalt.
Chulalongkorn University. Office of Academic Resources