Methane Activation by Nonthermal Plasma Generated Carbon Aerosols

    Authors

    N. Muradov; F. Smith;G. Bokerman

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Phys. Chem. C

    Keywords

    AMORPHOUS-CARBON; DECOMPOSITION; HYDROGEN; DECARBONIZATION; CHEMISTRY; GAS; Chemistry, Physical; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology; Materials Science, ; Multidisciplinary

    Abstract

    Activation of methane is one of the most challenging problems in catalysis due to the refractory nature of methane. Of particular interest is catalytic dissociation of methane as an attractive CO(2)-free route to production of hydrogen from natural gas. Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of catalytic activity of plasma-generated carbon aerosols for methane decomposition reaction are reported in this work. Carbon aerosols were produced by nonthermal plasma assisted decomposition of a carbon precursor gas (methane or propane) at near-ambient conditions. Plasma-generated carbons exhibited significantly higher catalytic activity for methane decomposition than known carbon-based catalysts with a comparable surface area. The mechanism of methane activation as well as the interrelation between the nanostructure of the plasma-generated carbons and their catalytic activity are discussed. The high catalytic activity of plasma-generated carbons for methane decomposition is attributed to the increased surface concentration of high-energy sites formed during nonequilibrium plasma assisted dissociation of a carbon precursor.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Physical Chemistry C

    Volume

    113

    Issue/Number

    22

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    9737

    Last Page

    9747

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000266447600046

    ISSN

    1932-7447

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