Carbon Nanostructures Synthesized by Ethanol Pyrolysis Using a New Catalyst Fabricated by a Modified Sol-Gel Technology

Abstract

The conditions for obtaining a new nanostructured nickel-based catalyst with small particle size using a modified sol-gel method are described. Using this Ni/(NiO+Y₂O₃) catalyst, the synthesis of carbon nanotubes by pyrolysis of ethanol has been carried out. As shown here, both the catalyst microstructure and its synthesis parameters influence the structure and morphology of the carbon deposit.

Keywords:

• Carbon nanotubes
• catalyst
• pyrolysis
• sol-gel method

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to J. Ghanbaja for the analysis of the catalyst by electron microscopy and to the Conseil Régional de la Lorraine for financial support through the ARCUS Lorraine-Russia program.