Synthesis of carbon nano-chains from glycerol-ethanol decomposition over Ni-Fe alloy catalyst

- Alternative precursor (glycerol-ethanol blend) for CNCs synthesis was used.
- Ni-Fe alloy (Taenite phase) was the active phase for CNCs synthesis.
- CNCs size depends on reduction temperature of the Taenite phase.
- Reduction temperatures as 600 °C and 900 °C led to the same Taenite phase with different particle size. Therefore, different CNCs sizes were obtained.
- No metal carbide species was found to be formed during CNCs synthesis.
- A CNCs growth model was proposed.

A carbon nano-structure with chain-like morphology was synthesized during ethanol-glycerol blend decomposition over Ni-Fe alloy catalyst supported on La2O3. Chemical characterization of catalyst showed that the active phase during carbon decomposition process corresponds to Taenite and the growth for this carbon nanostructure follows a similar mechanism to that proposed for carbon nano-onions (CNOs), but does not imply the formation of carbides species over the catalyst surface. Also, the shape and size of the carbon nano-chains (CNCs) were influenced for both the Fe content in the alloy and the temperature of catalyst reduction.

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