II International Symposium on Carbon for Catalysis ABSTRACTS

OP-<strong>II</strong>-2
SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATION OF CARBON
NANOFIBERS ON THE SURFACE AND IN THE PORES OF MODIFIED
ACTIVATED CARBON
Chen X., Su D., Schlögl R.
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber Institute of Max-Planck Society
Faradayweg 4-6, Berlin D-14195, Germany
Email: dangsheng@fhi-berlin.mpg.de
Carbon nanotubes or nanofibers (CNTs or CNFs) have attracted the interest of many
researchers because of their extraordinary properties, in particular in chemistry, physics, and
nanotechnology. Applications of CNTs and CNFs are expected in broad areas, including field
effect transistors, one-dimensional quantum wires, hydrogen storage materials, and so on.
Loose CNTs or CNFs are unsuitable for applications in catalysis and environmental science
because they are difficult for handling and cannot be controlled in the suprastructured
properties. Immobilizing CNTs or CNFs on a substrate is highly desirable. However, it is
mandatory to use the same element for the immobilization and to avoid combination of
nanocarbon with any non-carbon support. Activated carbon (AC) is widely used as catalyst
supports and adsorbents due to their high specific surface areas and well-developed porosities.
Hierarchically structured carbon with carbon nanofibers nested inside or immobilized onto
modified activated carbon has been successfully synthesized by means of chemical vapour
decomposition of ethylene [1]. The activated carbon is obtained from bio-waste of palm oil
production, followed by a mild oxidation, the impregnation and reduction of iron supported
on activated carbon catalyst. The morphology and yield of the CNFs/AC composites can be
controlled by changing iron precursors, C 2 H 4 /H 2 ratios, reaction temperatures, and reaction
time. The nano-architectured carbon composite has a great potential in the environmental
application: abundance of the adsorbed heteropolymolybdate [PMo 12 O 40 ] 3- increases a factor
of 27 after the growing of CNFs on the surface and inside the activated carbon. Detailed
results will be presented at the conference.
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