Effect of tourmaline additive on the crystal growth and activity of LaCoO3 for catalytic combustion of methane

LaCoO3/tourmaline was prepared as catalysts on the methane catalytic combustion. As additive tourmaline, its effect on crystal growth and catalytic activity of LaCoO3, were investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), H2-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR) and catalyst evaluation techniques. SEM and TEM indicated that the spontaneous polarizability of tourmaline made LaCoO3 particles grow dispersedly on tourmaline, alleviated the agglomeration and exposed more reactive sites. It was a main influence leading to the improvement of catalysts activity, exposed via catalyst evaluation device. Among the different additive proportion of compound samples, the 2% tourmaline added LaCoO3 showed an obvious enhancement activity compared to non-tourmaline sample—the light-off temperature was 454 °C and CH4 reached the full conversion at 563 °C.

Graphical AbstractTEM images of LCT2 (LaCoO3 nanoparticles growing on the surface of tourmaline particles)Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide