Production of catalytic filamentous carbon by solar thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons

The catalytic decomposition of CH4 and C4H10 has been experimentally studied using concentrated solar radiation as the clean source of the process heat. A small scale fluidized-bed solar reactor containing small Ni/Al2O3 or Co/MgO catalyst particles in a flow of reactant gas was directly irradiated in PSI's high-flux solar furnace. Two valuable chemical commodities were produced: Catalytic Filamentous Carbon (CFC) and hydrogen-rich gas mixtures. The carbon deposits consisted of randomly interlaced filaments that grew as monolithic nanofibers and hollow nanotubes of approximately 10 to 40 nm diameter. BET measurements and high resolution transmission electron micrographs (HRTEM) revealed that CFC with distinct morphology can be produced from the decomposition of hydrocarbons using concentrated solar radiation.