Converting Carbon Dioxide into Carbon Nanotubes by Reacting with Ethane

Yuan, Yong; Huang, Erwei; Hwang, Sooyeon; Liu, Ping; Chen, Jingguang G.

doi:10.1002/anie.202404047

Title: Converting Carbon Dioxide into Carbon Nanotubes by Reacting with Ethane

Journal Article · 04 May 2024 · Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202404047 · OSTI ID:2396609

Yuan, Yong ^[1]; Huang, Erwei ^[1]; Hwang, Sooyeon ^[1]; Liu, Ping ^[1];

^[2]

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)

In this study, the urgency to mitigate environmental impacts from anthropogenic CO₂ emissions has propelled extensive research efforts on CO₂ reduction. The current work reports a novel approach involving transforming CO₂ and ethane into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using earth-abundant metals (Fe, Co, Ni) at 750 °C. This route facilitates long-term carbon storage via generating high-value CNTs and produces valuable syngas with adjustable H₂/CO ratios as byproducts. Without CO₂, direct pyrolysis of ethane undergoes rapid deactivation. The participation of CO₂ not only enhances the durability of the catalyst, but also contributes about 30 % of the CNTs production, presenting a viable solution to CO₂ challenges. The CNT morphology depends on the catalyst used. Co- and Ni-based catalysts produce CNT with a 20 nm diameter and micrometer length, whereas Fe-based catalysts yield bamboo-like structures. This work represents a pioneering effort in utilizing CO₂ and ethane for CNT production with potential environmental and economic benefits.

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Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704; SC0012653

OSTI ID:: 2396609

Report Number(s):: BNL--225802-2024-JAAM

Journal Information:: Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie (International Edition) Journal Issue: 29 Vol. 63; ISSN 1433-7851

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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