Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T11:01:03.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of CO2 on Carbon Nanotube Formation from Thermal Decomposition of Ethylene

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2015

Chuanwei Zhuo ,
Fariba Khanshan ,
Richard West ,
Henning Richter  and
Yiannis A. Levendis
Chuanwei Zhuo
Affiliation:
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115 Business and Technology Center, Cabot Corporation, Billerica, MA 01821
Fariba Khanshan
Affiliation:
Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
Richard West
Affiliation:
Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
Henning Richter
Affiliation:
Materials Synthesis Research, Nano-C Inc., Boston, MA 02115
Yiannis A. Levendis
Affiliation:
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
Get access

Abstract

Catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a popular method to synthesize carbon nanotubes (CNTs). At the presence of catalysts (usually trasition metals), the hydrocarbon feedstock decomposes controllably at elevated temperatures and can form tubular structures. It has been suggested that trace amounts of weak gas-phase oxidants, such as CO2, can enhance the CNT synthesis by extending the catatlyst life. It is not clear, however, how such additives affect the CVD reaction environment. In this study, ethylene gas was introduced to a preheated furnace/CVD reactor where meshes of stainless steel were placed. Therein ethylene was thermally decomposed in nitrogen mixed with different amounts of carbon dioxide. The meshes served as catalytic substrates for the CNT growth. The compositions of the ethylene pyrolyzates were analysed both with and without the presence of catalysts, to explore the possible contributions of CO2 addition to the CNT formation. The latter compositions were compared with kinetic model predictions of the thermal decomposition of ethylene. Both experimental and simulation results indicated that 1,3-butadiene (C4H6) was the most abundant hydrocarbon species of ethylene decomposition (at 800 °C) and that decomposition was inhibitted at the presence of CO2. A commesurate effect on CNT formation was observed experimentally, whereas the quality of CNTs got improved.

Keywords

chemical vapor deposition (CVD) (deposition)nanostructureC
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1747: Symposium HH – Flame and High-Temperature Synthesis of Functional Nanomaterials—Fundamentals and Applications , 2015 , mrsf14-1747-hh04-09
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Hata, K., et al. ., Water-Assisted Highly Efficient Synthesis of Impurity-Free Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Science, 2004. 306(5700): p. 1362–1364.Google ScholarPubMed
Li, G., et al. ., The effect of substrate positions in chemical vapor deposition reactor on the growth of carbon nanotube arrays. Carbon, 2010. 48(7): p. 2111–2115.Google Scholar
Wen, Q., et al. ., 100 mm Long, Semiconducting Triple-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Advanced Materials, 2010. 22(16): p. 1867–1871.Google ScholarPubMed
Huang, J.Q., et al. ., Process Intensification by CO2 for High Quality Carbon Nanotube Forest Growth: Double-Walled Carbon Nanotube Convexity or Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Bowls? Nano Research, 2009. 2(11): p. 872–881.Google Scholar
Corthals, S., et al. ., The beneficial effect of CO2 in the low temperature synthesis of high quality carbon nanofibers and thin multiwalled carbon nanotubes from CH4 over Ni catalysts. Carbon, 2012. 50(2): p. 372–384.Google Scholar
Wen, Q., et al. ., CO2-Assisted SWNT Growth on Porous Catalysts. Chemistry of Materials, 2007. 19(6): p. 1226–1230.Google Scholar
Chen, M., et al. ., Influence of CO2 and N2 on the growth of carbon nanotubes by using thermal chemical vapor deposition. Thin Solid Films, 2007. 516(2–4): p. 277–283.Google Scholar
Li, Z., et al. ., CO2 enhanced carbon nanotube synthesis from pyrolysis of hydrocarbons. Chemical Communications, 2008(28).Google ScholarPubMed
Yang, X.S., et al. ., Open-Ended Aligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays Produced Using CO2-Assisted Floating-Ferrocene Chemical Vapor Deposition. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2011. 115(29): p. 14093–14097.Google Scholar
Magrez, A., et al. ., Evidence of an Equimolar C2H2–CO2 Reaction in the Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2007. 46(3): p. 441–444.Google ScholarPubMed
Magrez, A., et al. ., Low-Temperature, Highly Efficient Growth of Carbon Nanotubes on Functional Materials by an Oxidative Dehydrogenation Reaction. ACS Nano, 2010. 4(7): p. 3702–3708.Google ScholarPubMed
Magrez, A., et al. ., Catalytic CVD Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes: Towards High Yield and Low Temperature Growth. Materials, 2010. 3(11): p. 4871–4891.Google ScholarPubMed
Gaiktwad, A.V., et al. ., Carbon nanotube/carbon nanofiber growth from industrial by-product gases on low- and high-alloy steels. Carbon, 2012. 50(12): p. 4722–4731.Google Scholar
Li, Z.R., et al. ., CO2 enhanced carbon nanotube synthesis from pyrolysis of hydrocarbons. Chemical Communications, 2008(28): p. 3260–3262.Google ScholarPubMed
Faravelli, T., et al. ., Gas product distribution from polyethylene pyrolysis. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 1999. 52(1): p. 87–103.Google Scholar
Williams, P.T. and Williams, E.A., Fluidised bed pyrolysis of low density polyethylene to produce petrochemical feedstock. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 1999. 51(1–2): p. 107–126.Google Scholar
Mastellone, M.L., et al. ., Fluidized bed pyrolysis of a recycled polyethylene. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2002. 76(3): p. 479–487.Google Scholar
Mastral, F.J., et al. ., Pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene in a fluidised bed reactor. Influence of the temperature and residence time. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2002. 63(1): p. 1–15.Google Scholar
Costa, P.A., et al. ., Kinetic evaluation of the pyrolysis of polyethylene waste. Energy & Fuels, 2007. 21(5): p. 2489–2498.Google Scholar
Zhuo, C., et al. ., Oxidative heat treatment of 316L stainless steel for effective catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes. Applied Surface Science, 2014(0).Google Scholar
Ruiz, M.P., et al. ., Soot formation from C2H2 and C2H4 pyrolysis at different temperatures. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2007. 79(1–2): p. 244–251.Google Scholar
Brüggert, M., Hu, Z., and Hüttinger, K.J., Chemistry and kinetics of chemical vapor deposition of pyrocarbon: VI. influence of temperature using methane as a carbon source. Carbon, 1999. 37(12): p. 2021–2030.Google Scholar