Formation of a supported cobalt catalyst for the synthesis of carbon nanofibers on aluminum oxide

Abstract

Comparative studies of the effect of the physicochemical characteristics of a support (aluminum oxide) on the formation of a supported Co catalyst and its activity in the pyrolysis of alkanes (propane-butane) were performed. The effect of the crystalline modification of alumina on the yield of catalytic filamentous carbon (CFC) ((g CFC)/(g Co)) was studied. The surface morphologies of Co-containing catalysts and synthesized carbon deposits were studied by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that carbon deposits with a well-defined nanofiber structure were synthesized by the pyrolysis of a propane-butane mixture in the presence of hydrogen at 600°C on supported Co catalysts prepared by homogeneous precipitation on macroporous corundum (α-Al₂O₃). The yield of CFC was no higher than 4 (g CFC)/(g Co). On the Co catalyst prepared by homogeneous precipitation on mesoporous Al₂O₃, the intense carbonization of the initial support; the formation of cobalt aluminates; and, as a consequence, the deactivation of Co⁰ as a catalyst of FC synthesis occurred. The dependence of the yield of CFC on the preheating temperature (from 200 to 800°C) of Co catalysts before pyrolysis was studied. It was found that, as the preheating temperature of supported Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts was increased, the amount of synthesized carbon, including CFC, decreased because of Co⁰ deactivation due to the interaction with the support and coke formation.