Simultaneous production of hydrogen and nanocarbon from decomposition of methane on a nickel-based catalyst

From the decomposition of methane, hydrogen without carbon oxides can be pr oduced with a high energy-efficiency, which is attractive for its suitabili ty of utilization in the fuel cells. At a same time nanocarbon materials wi th attractive texture and structure can be produced in a large amount. Towa rd a simultaneous bulk production of hydrogen and nanocarbon, catalysts bas ed on nanometer-scale nickel particles prepared from a hydrotalcite-like an ionic clay precursor have been designed and tested to fit the process goals . For hydrogen production, as the equilibrium methane conversion of the rea ction increases with the increase of the reaction temperature, the process is commercially more attractive if it can be operated at a temperature high er than 1073 K. However, a nickel catalyst has a maximum activity for nanoc arbon production at 923 K. Modification of the catalyst with doping of copp er increased the activation temperature and leads to a production of nanoca rbon with an attractive structure. The feasibility and the challenges met f or the coupling of the two process goals is discussed, and some promising r esults are presented in this work.