Hydrogen and carbon nanotubes production by methane decomposition over Ni°/La2 O3 obtained from LaNiO3-δ perovskite

LaNiO3 perovskite, both reduced and non-reduced, was evaluated in the decomposition of methane at 600°C and 700°C. The Ni°/La2 O3 obtained by reduction of LaNiO3 showed the largest methane decomposition activity and also the highest yield of hydrogen and carbon nanotubes (CNTs): 18 LH2 /(gcat h) and 2.2 g CNT/(g cat h), respectively. To our knowledge, these figures are among the highest values reported in the scientific literature. When non-reduced perovskite was used, the conversions and yields of CNTs were about 4 times lower than those with reduced catalyst. Multi walled carbon nanotubes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, surface area, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. TEM micrographs showed that the CNTs were multi-walled, with inner diameters ranging from 5 to 16 nm, external diameters up to about 40 nm, and several microns in length.