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Bimetallic Fe/Mo–SiO2 aerogel catalysts for catalytic carbon vapour deposition production of carbon nanotubes

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Abstract

Highly porous nanocomposite aerogels based on bimetallic Fe and Mo nanoparticles with a variable Fe:Mo weight ratio ranging from 5:1; 3:1; and 0.7:1 dispersed on amorphous silica were obtained. N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy indicate that the Fe/Mo–SiO2 nanocomposite aerogels as obtained by a co-gelation sol–gel route followed by supercritical drying and reduction treatment under H2 exhibit Fe and Mo nanocrystals with size in the range 4–10 and 15 nm, respectively, supported on highly porous silica. The catalytic performance of the Fe/Mo–SiO2 aerogels for the synthesis of multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) was evaluated in terms of amount and quality of the produced CNTs as assessed by gravimetric results, thermal analysis, and TEM. The effect of catalyst composition and CCVD temperature was investigated, pointing out that high reaction temperatures (800 °C) favor the formation of MWCNTs with high quality in elevated yield, the highest C uptake value being >400 %. Catalyst composition and CCVD temperature were also found to affect the homogeneity of CNT morphology, the best MWCNT quality (with outer diameter 23–25 nm) being achieved at 800 °C with the catalyst having the largest Mo content.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the MAE-Ministero degli Affari Esteri, Direzione Generale per la Promozione del Sistema Paese, and by the Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (L.R.7/2007) through Projects CRP-18013 and CRP-26449.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche and INSTM, Università di Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy

    Claudia Marras, Danilo Loche, Anna Corrias & Maria Francesca Casula

  2. School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, Ingram Building, Canterbury, CT2 7NH, UK

    Anna Corrias

  3. Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary

    Zoltan Konya

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  1. Claudia Marras
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  2. Danilo Loche
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  3. Anna Corrias
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  4. Zoltan Konya
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  5. Maria Francesca Casula
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Correspondence to Maria Francesca Casula.

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Marras, C., Loche, D., Corrias, A. et al. Bimetallic Fe/Mo–SiO2 aerogel catalysts for catalytic carbon vapour deposition production of carbon nanotubes. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 73, 379–388 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-014-3544-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-014-3544-9

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