Atomic level transition of graphene layer to carbon nanotubes over cobalt during ethanol decomposition reaction

<p dir="ltr">Herein we report the catalytic ethanol decomposition over cobalt catalyst synthesized using conventional solution <u>combustion synthesis</u> (SCS). The reaction pathway proposed in-situ DRIFT analysis shows that the <u>decomposition reaction</u> proceeds through the formation of surface ethoxy intermediates that transformed into acetates and aldehydes which further decompose to releases CH₄, H₂ and CO₂ with some deposition of carbon on the catalyst surface. The <u>catalytic reaction</u> shows 100 % ethanol conversion at 420 °C, with high selectivity of H₂ in the output. The structural transformation of the catalyst and deposited carbon was analyzed using high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). Presence of small Co <u>nanoparticles</u> (size <30 nm) surrounded with graphene and larger <u>metal nanoparticles</u> trapped inside MWCNTs was visible during a stability run over 50 h that motivates in proposing the reaction mechanism of the fluctuating metal nanoparticle along with carbon on the catalyst surface. Moreover, this work opens up the possibility of synthesizing highly dispersed Co <u>nanoparticles</u> in an efficient way without any complex experimental procedures and equipment that can further be used as effective catalysts in many industrial reactions.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.01.070" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.01.070</a></p>