Low-temperature Synthesis of Carbon Nanofibers/graphite Felt Composites Under Contactless Induction Heating

In this report induction heating was used for the catalytic chemical vapor decomposition synthesis of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on Ni-based catalyst. The CNFs were produced with a high yield at a relatively low temperature compared to that observed for conventional heating through convection and conduction. The process also occurred in the absence of secondary toxic organic compounds, formed through side reaction in the high temperature gas-phase or through decomposition on the hot wall of reactor as encountered with traditional Joule heating mode. The improved CNFs yield under induction heating was attributed to the high reaction temperature control thanks to the high temperature regulation rate provided by the induction heating coil. The local heating of the nickel nanoparticles by the electromagnetic field could also contribute to the improvement of the CNFs yield. The results obtained indicate that inductive heating mode could be of great interest for improving the heat transfer in catalytic processes and also to reduce the problem of gradient temperature occurring inside the catalyst bed during the operating of highly exothermic or endothermic processes. It is expected that such electricity-driven heating mode could have contributed in an efficient way toward the electrification of different catalytic processes in order to reduce the associated carbon footprint.