Controlling Co-support interaction in Co/MWCNTs catalysts and catalytic performance for hydrogen production via NH3 decomposition

• Supported cobalt is reduced by MWCNTs via thermal pretreatment in N2 atmosphere.
• Reduction of Co species by MWCNTs can be controlled by pretreatment temperature.
• The N2-activated Co/MWCNTs catalyst has high catalytic activity for NH3 decomposition.

The influence of thermal treatment in hydrogen and nitrogen atmosphere of Co precursors in Co/MWCNTs system on the catalyst structure and catalytic activities in NH3 decomposition were studied. The cobalt-support interaction in cobalt supported on MWCNTs was controlled by varying the temperature of thermal treatment of Co precursor and reaction media. Due to the interaction of cobalt species with multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), the Co/MWCNTs catalysts after pretreatment in nitrogen exhibited higher catalytic activity for NH3 decomposition comparing to that observed after hydrogen pretreatment of the sample. Cobalt dispersion in MWCNTs-supported catalysts was found to be a function of thermal pretreatment temperatures. The studied samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, HRTEM, thermo gravimetric analysis, temperature programmed reduction and temperature programmed desorption

The reduction of cobalt species by MWCNTs in Co/MWCNTs catalyst during thermal pretreatment in N2 atmosphere results in a higher catalytic activity in NH3 decomposition than the Co/MWCNTs catalyst reduced by H2.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (278 K)Download as PowerPoint slide