Pt/graphite nanofiber catalyst in n-hexane test reaction

Five percent Pt on a "platelet-type" graphite nanofiber was active in skele tal reactions of n-hexane at lower temperature than Pt/SiO2, The turnover f requencies showed maxima in both cases as a function of hydrogen pressure, p(H-2). Pt/graphite nanofiber produced significantly more isomers than EURO PT-1 at lower temperature and higher p(Hz). The selectivity of fragments wa s small, and their distribution showed almost perfectly random rupture. The propensities for both features can be explained by there being more surfac e H available with the nanofiber support. It is indicated that this combina tion may be a promising metal catalyst for low-temperature alkane isomeriza tion reactions. (C) 2000 Academic Press.