Graphitic nanomaterials from biogas-derived carbon nanofibers

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 degrees C and 700 degrees C, were heat treated in the temperature interval 2600-2800 degrees 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 (d(002) similar to 0.3360 nm, L-c similar to 48 nm, L-a > 100 nm) and low porosity (S-BET similar to 20 m(2) 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. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.