Graphitic nanomaterials from biogas-derived carbon nanofibers

• Highly ordered nanographite was produced from biogas-derived carbon nanofibers.
• Nanomaterials with d002 0.3360, Lc 48, and La 100 nm, and SBET 20 m2 g− 1 were prepared.
• Nanomaterials with higher structural order were obtained by adding silica.
• The catalytic effect of silicon, in presence of inherent Ni and Co, was inferred.
• Application of nanomaterials prepared in energy storage devices appears feasible.

Carbon nanofibers with different microstructure and elemental composition that were produced in the catalytic decomposition of synthetic biogas mixtures, in a rotary-bed reactor using nickel and nickel-cobalt catalysts at 600 °C and 700 °C, were heat treated in the temperature interval 2600–2800 °C to explore their ability to graphitize. The influence of treatment temperature as well as carbon nanofibers composition, particularly metallic species, on the structural and textural properties of the materials prepared is discussed. Graphitic nanomaterials with great development of the three-dimensional structure (d002 ~ 0.3360 nm, Lc ~ 48 nm, La > 100 nm) and low porosity (SBET ~ 20 m2 g− 1) have been achieved. Because of the catalytic effect of silicon in the presence of inherent nickel and cobalt metals, more structurally ordered materials were obtained from the carbon nanofibers by adding silica. Based on the results of this work, the utilization of biogas-derived carbon nanofibers for the production of synthetic nanographite to be used in different applications, such as electrode material in energy storage devices in which both high degree of graphitic order and small surface area are required, appears feasible.