Patent Application
20060057054
This invention relates to carbon nano-fibrous rod (carbon nanorod), fibrous nanocarbon, and a method and apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon.
In recent years, a carbon nanofiber (in 1983, United States of America, Hyperion Catalytic International, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1987-5000943, Multi-walled Nanotube, The number of walls varies, with 8 to 15 being typical. The outside diameter of the tube is approximately 10 to 15 nanometers. The inside diameter is approximately 5 nanometers. Nanotubes are typically tens of microns in length. Aspect ratios on the order of 100 to 1000), (H. P. Boehm, Carbon, 11, 583 (1973), H. Murayama, T. Maeda, Nature, 245, 791, Rodriguez, N. M. 1993. J. Mater. Res. 8:3233), and carbon nanotube (S. Iijima, Nature, 354, 56(1991), S. Iijima), for example, have been discovered as carbon materials on the order of nanometers (nm=one-billionth of a meter). These materials have attracted attention as fine carbon materials.
Outlines of the structures of conventional carbon nanofibers are shown in FIGS. 49(a) to 49(c). In the conventional carbon nanofibers, three types of structures comprising a stack of plate-shaped hexagonal carbon layers have been proposed as shown in
In recent years, application studies using carbon nanofibers have been conducted. For example, these studies cover occlusion or adsorption and desorption of hydrogen and lithium, catalytic action, and adsorption of nitrogen oxides. A high capacity of occluding target substances is required of carbon nanofibers for such uses, but preferred carbon nanofibers have not appeared yet.
Thus, there is a strong demand for the advent of fibrous nanocarbon substances which can impart varieties of characteristics at the same time by variously arranging or gathering carbon nano-fibrous rods of diverse dimensions and shapes to systematically prepare fibrous nanocarbon having wide varieties of structures.
In the production of a carbon nanofiber, a basic reactor as shown in
Hence, as shown in
However, with the basic reactor as shown in
In the light of above-described circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a carbon nano-fibrous rod which can show a high potential in the occlusion or adsorption and desorption of hydrogen and lithium, catalytic action, and adsorption of nitrogen oxides, fibrous nanocarbon comprising the carbon nano-fibrous rods arranged and gathered, and a method and apparatus for producing the fibrous nanocarbon.
A first invention for attaining the above-mentioned object is a carbon nano-fibrous rod comprising a hexagonal carbon layer having a central axis extending in one direction.
A second invention is the carbon nano-fibrous rod according to the first invention, characterized in that the axial width (D) of the hexagonal carbon layer is 2.5±0.5 nm, and the length (L) of the hexagonal carbon layer is 17±15 nm.
A third invention is the carbon nano-fibrous rod according to the first or second invention, characterized in that 2 to 12 of the hexagonal carbon layers are stacked.
A fourth invention is fibrous nanocarbon comprising a plurality of the carbon nano-fibrous rods of any one of the first to third inventions gathered together.
A fifth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the fourth invention, characterized in that the carbon nano-fibrous rods are stacked in a three-dimensionally close-packed state.
A sixth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the fourth or fifth invention, characterized in that the plurality of the carbon nano-fibrous rods are stacked, with central axes thereof being parallel to each other, to constitute a carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster.
A seventh invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the sixth invention, characterized in that the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster comprises the carbon nano-fibrous rods three-dimensionally stacked, with nano-gaps being provided between the carbon nano-fibrous rod comprising the 2 to 12 of the hexagonal carbon layers stacked and the carbon nano-fibrous rod comprising the 2 to 12 of the hexagonal carbon layers stacked.
An eighth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the fourth invention, characterized in that the carbon nano-fibrous rods are joined in series at axial end portions to constitute a carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster in the axial direction.
A ninth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the eighth invention, characterized in that the axial end portions of the carbon nano-fibrous rods are joined by heat treatment.
A tenth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the sixth invention, characterized in that the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster is arranged at an arrangement angle of larger than 0 degree but smaller than 20 degrees with respect to an axis perpendicular to the fiber axis in the direction of stack of the carbon nano-fibrous rods, thereby forming a columnar shape.
An eleventh invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the sixth invention, characterized in that the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster is arranged at an arrangement angle of larger than 20 degrees but smaller than 80 degrees with respect to an axis perpendicular to the fiber axis in the direction of stack of the carbon nano-fibrous rods, thereby forming a feather shape.
A twelfth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the tenth or eleventh invention, characterized in that the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster has a herringbone structure.
A thirteenth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the tenth or eleventh invention, characterized in that the interplanar distance (d002) between the hexagonal carbon layers is less than 0.500 nm under heat treatment conditions at 700° C. or lower.
A fourteenth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to any one of the tenth to twelfth inventions, characterized in that the fiber width of an aggregate of the carbon nano-fibrous rods is 8 to 500 nm, and the fiber aspect ratio (fiber length/fiber width) of the aggregate is 10 or more.
A fifteenth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the eighth invention, characterized in that the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster is arranged at an arrangement angle of 80 degrees to 88 degrees with respect to an axis perpendicular to the fiber axis in the direction of stack of the carbon nano-fibrous rods, thereby forming a tubular shape.
A sixteenth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to the fifteenth invention, characterized in that the fiber width of an aggregate of the carbon nano-fibrous rods is 8 to 80 nm, and the fiber aspect ratio (fiber length/fiber width) of the aggregate is 30 or more.
A seventeenth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to any one of the tenth to sixteenth inventions, characterized in that the cross sectional structure in a direction perpendicular to the fiber axis is polygonal.
An eighteenth invention is the fibrous nanocarbon according to any one of the tenth to seventeenth inventions, characterized by being heat-treated at a high temperature of 1,600° C. or higher, and characterized in that the ends of the carbon nano-fibrous rods on the surface of the fibrous nanocarbon are two-dimensionally loop-shaped and three-dimensionally dome-shaped.
A nineteenth invention for attaining the aforementioned object is a method for producing fibrous nanocarbon comprising an aggregate of carbon nano-fibrous rods by reacting a carbon material in a high temperature fluidized bed with the use of a catalyst, characterized by using, as a fluid material, a dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material comprising a metal catalyst-supporting carrier bound via a binder, and characterized by performing a first gas supply step of supplying a reducing gas, a carbon material supply step of supplying the carbon material in a gaseous state to produce a carbon nano-fibrous rod in the presence of the metal catalyst of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material, and a second gas supply step of supplying a carbon-free gas to eliminate the fluidizing function of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material.
A twentieth invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized in that the average particle diameter of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material is 0.2 to 20 mm.
A twenty-first invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized in that the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material comprises a product formed by supporting the catalyst on the surface of the carrier, or an agglomerate of the products.
A twenty-second invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized in that the carrier of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material is any one of carbon black, alumina, silica, silica sand, and aluminosilicate.
A twenty-third invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized in that the metal catalyst of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material is any one of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu and Mo, or is a mixture of at least two of these metals.
A twenty-fourth invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized in that the flow velocity in the fluidized bed is 0.02 to 2 m/s.
A twenty-fifth invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized by controlling conditions for each of the first gas supply step, the carbon material supply step, and the second gas supply step independently of one another.
A twenty-sixth invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the twenty-fifth invention, characterized in that the conditions are a temperature, a pressure, a time, and a gas atmosphere.
A twenty-seventh invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized by bringing the catalyst of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material and the carbon material into contact with each other at a temperature of 300 to 1,300° C. in a gas mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas (hydrogen partial pressure 0 to 90%) at a pressure of 0.1 to 25 atmospheres, thereby producing the fibrous nanocarbon.
A twenty-eighth invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized by metallizing and finely dividing the catalytic component of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material by a reducing action of the reducing gas in at least one of the first gas supply step and the carbon material supply step.
A twenty-ninth invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the twenty-eighth invention, characterized by controlling the particle diameter of the metal catalyst of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material in finely dividing the metal catalyst, thereby controlling the diameter of the fibrous nanocarbon obtained.
A thirtieth invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized in that the second gas supply step forms a zone at a high flow velocity locally in the fluidized bed to promote the fine division and wear of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material by a collision between particles of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material, or a collision between the particles and a wall surface.
A thirty-first invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirtieth invention, characterized in that the zone at a high flow velocity in the fluidized bed is formed in a lower portion of the fluidized bed.
A thirty-second invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirtieth invention, characterized in that the zone at a high flow velocity is formed by flowing a high velocity gas into the fluidized bed.
A thirty-third invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirty-second invention, characterized by supplying particles, which have scattered from the fluidized bed, again into the fluidized bed while entraining the particles in the high velocity gas.
A thirty-fourth invention is the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, characterized by separating the produced fibrous nanocarbon from the carrier or the catalyst.
A thirty-fifth invention is an apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon, which is used in performing the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, and which comprises a fluidized bed reactor charged with the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material and provided with heating means for heating the interior of the fluidized bed reactor, first gas supply means for supplying the reducing gas into the fluidized bed reactor, carbon material supply means for supplying the carbon material in a gaseous state into the fluidized bed reactor, second gas supply means supplying the gas free from carbon into the fluidized bed reactor, and a discharge line for discharging a gas and scattered particles from the fluidized bed reactor.
A thirty-sixth invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirty-fifth invention, characterized in that recovery means for recovering the scattered particles is provided in the discharge line.
A thirty-seventh invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirty-fifth invention, characterized in that a fluidized bed portion of the fluidized bed reactor has a high velocity flow portion and a low velocity flow portion.
A thirty-eighth invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirty-seventh invention, characterized in that a collision portion is present in the high velocity flow portion.
A thirty-ninth invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirty-fifth invention, characterized in that high velocity gas blowing means for blowing a gas at a high velocity into the fluidized bed reactor is provided.
A fortieth invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirty-ninth invention, characterized in that when the gas is blown at a high velocity, recovered particles are entrained in the gas.
A forty-first invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirty-fifth invention, characterized in that a first flow chamber, a second flow chamber, and a third flow chamber, where the fluid material is flowingly movable, are formed within the fluidized bed reactor, the first gas supply means is connected to the first flow chamber, the carbon material supply means is connected to the second flow chamber, and the second gas supply means is connected to the third flow chamber.
A forty-second invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the thirty-fifth invention, characterized in that a first flow chamber and a second flow chamber, where the fluid material is flowingly movable, are formed within the fluidized bed reactor, another fluidized bed reactor different from the fluidized bed reactor is provided as a third flow chamber, transport means for transporting the fluid material from the second flow chamber to the third flow chamber is provided, the first gas supply means is connected to the first flow chamber, the carbon material supply means is connected to the second flow chamber, and the second gas supply means is connected to the third flow chamber.
A forty-fourth invention is an apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon, which is used in performing the method for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the nineteenth invention, and which comprises a first fluidized bed reactor charged interiorly with the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material, having heating means for heating the interior of the first fluidized bed reactor, and having first gas supply means for supplying the reducing gas into the first fluidized bed reactor; a second fluidized bed reactor having transport means for transporting the fluid material from the first fluidized bed reactor, and having carbon material supply means for supplying the carbon material in a gaseous state into the second fluidized bed reactor; a third fluidized bed reactor having transport means for transporting the fluid material and a reaction product from the second fluidized bed reactor, and having second gas supply means for supplying the gas free from carbon into the third fluidized bed reactor, and a discharge line for discharging a gas and scattered particles from the third fluidized bed reactor.
A forty-fifth invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the forty-fourth invention, characterized by including a plurality of the first fluidized bed reactors.
A forty-sixth invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the forty-fourth invention, characterized by including a plurality of the second fluidized bed reactors.
A forty-seventh invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the forty-fourth invention, characterized by including a plurality of the third fluidized bed reactors.
A forty-eighth invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to any one of the thirty-fifth to forty-seventh inventions, characterized in that the average particle diameter of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material is 0.2 to 20 mm.
A forty-ninth invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to any one of the thirty-fifth to forty-seventh inventions, characterized in that the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material comprises a product formed by supporting the catalyst on the surface of the carrier, or an agglomerate of the products.
A fiftieth invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to any one of the thirty-fifth to forty-seventh inventions, characterized in that the carrier of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material is any one of carbon black, alumina, silica, silica sand, and aluminosilicate.
A fifty-first invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to any one of the thirty-fifth to forty-seventh inventions, characterized in that the metal catalyst of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material is any one of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu and Mo, or is a mixture of at least two of these metals.
A fifty-second invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to any one of the thirty-fifth to forty-seventh inventions, characterized in that the flow velocity in the fluidized bed is 0.02 to 2 m/s.
A fifty-third invention is the apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to any one of the thirty-fifth to forty-seventh inventions, characterized in that the catalyst of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material and the carbon material are brought into contact with each other for a certain period of time at a temperature of 300 to 1,300° C. in a gas mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas (hydrogen partial pressure 0 to 90%) at a pressure of 0.1 to 25 atmospheres, whereby the fibrous nanocarbon is produced.
FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are schematic views of a carbon nano-fibrous rod according to the present invention.
FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are schematic views of a carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster according to the present invention.
FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are sectional schematic views of the carbon nano-fibrous rod according to the present invention.
FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are microscope photographs of the carbon nano-fibrous rod in the as-prepared state and after heat treatment.
FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are a high resolution transmission microscope photograph and a scanning tunneling electron microscope photograph of the carbon nano-fibrous rod.
FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are high resolution transmission microscope photographs of fibrous nanocarbon of a columnar structure.
FIGS. 11(a) to 11(c) are schematic views of various forms of the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster.
FIGS. 12(a) to 12(d) are schematic views of fibrous nanocarbon aggregates of columnar structures.
FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) are schematic views of fibrous nanocarbon aggregates of other columnar structures.
FIGS. 14(a) to 14(d) are cross sectional schematic views of fibrous nanocarbon.
FIGS. 15(a) to 15(c) are scanning tunneling electron microscope photographs of various forms of carbon nano-fibrous rods.
FIGS. 16(a) to 16(c) are scanning tunneling electron microscope photographs of various forms of carbon nano-fibrous rods.
FIGS. 17(a) and 17(b) are schematic views of fibrous nanocarbon aggregates of a feather structure.
FIGS. 18(a) to 18(c) are high resolution transmission microscope photographs of fibrous nanocarbon of a feather structure.
FIGS. 19(a) to 19(c) are schematic views of fibrous nanocarbon aggregates of a tubular structure.
FIGS. 21(a) to 21(c) are photographs of structures after treatment at a high temperature of 2,800° C. for a carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster constituting fibrous nanocarbon of a columnar structure, the photographs being taken at varying angles (−30 degrees, 0 degree, +30 degrees) of a transmission electron beam of a high resolution transmission electron microscope.
FIGS. 30(a) to 30(c) are high resolution transmission electron microscope photographs of a carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster constituting fibrous nanocarbon of a columnar structure, which is in the as-prepared state (prepared at 600° C. using an iron catalyst), and its structures after heat treatment at high temperatures of 2,000° C. and 2,800° C.
FIGS. 33(a) to 33(e) are schematic views of a method for producing the carbon nano-fibrous rod according to the present invention.
FIGS. 46(a) and 46(b) are microphotographs of fibrous nanocarbon obtained in Example 1.
FIGS. 47(a) and 47(b) are microphotographs of fibrous nanocarbon obtained in Example 2.
FIGS. 48(a) and 48(b) are microphotographs of fibrous nanocarbon obtained in Example 3.
FIGS. 49(a) to 49(c) are model drawings of conventional nanofibers.
Embodiments of the carbon nano-fibrous rod, fibrous nanocarbon, and the method and apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
<Carbon Nano-Fibrous Rod and Fibrous Nanocarbon>
The inventors diligently conducted studies, and have found a novel nano-constitutional unit of fibrous nanocarbon (so-called carbon nanofiber). They have defined the fibrous nanocarbon composed of these constitutional units, and have found fibrous nanocarbon of a polygonal cross section showing a very high degree of graphitization, such that the interplanar distance (d002) between hexagonal carbon layers is 0.500 nm or less, simply under manufacturing conditions involving a relatively low temperature of 700° C. or lower. They have also found that the constitutional unit of the fibrous nanocarbon is an aggregate of independent carbon nano-fibrous rods.
They have further found that the fibrous nanocarbons of the polygonal cross section gather to form fibrous nanocarbon of a polygonal cross section showing a surface area, measured by nitrogen BET, of 200 m2 or more, for example, when having a fiber width of 100 nm on the average and an aspect ratio on the order of 30.
The hexagonal carbon layer (carbon hexagonal network), the carbon nano-fibrous rod which is a nano-aggregate of the hexagonal carbon layers, and the fibrous nanocarbon which is an array and stack of the carbon nano-fibrous rods will be described based on FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) and FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b).
FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are diagrammatic views of a carbon nano-fibrous rod composed of a plurality of hexagonal carbon layers. FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are schematic views showing a gathered state of carbon nano-fibrous rods.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1(a), 1(b) and 2(a), 2(b), a carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 is constituted of hexagonal carbon layers 11 having a central axis extending in one direction. In the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12, a single hexagonal carbon layer 11 (one layer) can constitute a basic constitutional unit, but usually, 2 to 12 of the hexagonal carbon layers 11 are stacked to form one constitutional unit.
The number of the hexagonal carbon layers 11 stacked is preferably 4 to 10. The reason why the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 serves as one unit made up of the stack of 2 to 12 of the hexagonal carbon layers 11 has not been elucidated yet. However, the reason is assumed to be concerned with the crystal lattice structure of a metal catalyst used for synthesis.
As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), a plurality of the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 are closely packed and stacked to constitute a carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13. As a result, many nano-gaps 14 are present along an axis (in an X-axis direction in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b)) formed by the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12. The nano-gap 14 serves as a space for taking in, for example, atoms such as hydrogen and lithium. The presence of the many nano-gaps 14 makes it possible to show the effects of a novel functional material, such as catalytic activity, occlusion or absorption and desorption of a particular substance, and so on.
In
The carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 has a cross sectional structure in a direction perpendicular to the axis. This cross sectional structure is circular in
Representative structures of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 composed of a plurality of the carbon nano-fibrous rod clusters three-dimensionally gathered include, for example, a columnar structure, a feather structure, and a tubular structure (details will be described later). In the present embodiment, the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of a columnar structure will be mainly explained as an example.
The fact that the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 according to the present invention is a constitutional unit is not clear in the as-prepared state of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12, but will become clear by performing heat treatment (or carbonization) at 1,600° C. or higher after preparation of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12. That is, the heat treatment at a high temperature of 1,600° C. or higher results in the construction of a carbon network in which the ends in the axial direction of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 form a loop two-dimensionally, or a dome three-dimensionally, as shown in
In the following explanations, the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12, whose ends do not form a loop in the as-prepared state, may be described as the “as-prepared state”, while the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12, which has been heat-treated at a high temperature of, say, 2,800° C., may be described as the “2,800° C. heat-treated state”.
FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are photographs of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 taken under a high resolution transmission electron microscope, HRTEM).
FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are photographs of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 (in the 2,800° C. heat-treated state) taken under an electron microscope.
In FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), the stacked state of 6 to 7 of the hexagonal carbon layers 11 is represented, and these layers can be confirmed to constitute the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12. Accordingly, it can be confirmed that the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 constitutes one constitutional unit, and a gathering of these constitutional units constitutes the fibrous nanocarbon 15. The unclearness of the above scanning tunneling electron microscope (STM) photograph is ascribable to a high magnification, and to its principle of photography under which a clearer photograph cannot be obtained at the present time. However, it can be confirmed that the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 is one constitutional unit.
The hexagonal carbon layer according to the present embodiment is the same as that in black materials accounting for most of the current carbon materials, and has a hexagonal layer of carbon atoms as the basic unit of its structure. The properties of these carbon materials are known to be determined basically by the completeness and size of the hexagonal carbon layer, the thickness of a stack of the hexagonal carbon layers, the regularity of the stack, and the mode and degree of selective orientation of the carbon layer (Dictionary of Carbon Terminology, p. 226, The Carbon Society of Japan, edited by the Dictionary of Carbon Terminology Edition Committee, Agne Shofu-sha, Tokyo, 2000).
The carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 according to the present invention has hexagonal layers of carbon atoms as basic units, and is established by 95% or more of carbon atoms. When the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 is heat-treated at a high temperature of 2,000° C. or higher, it is established by 99% or more of carbon atoms. The interplanar spacing (d002) of the nano-aggregate of the hexagonal carbon layers 11 of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 is less than 0.500 nm, and is similar to the magnitude (0.3354 nm) of the interplanar spacing (d002) of pure graphite. Thus, the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 according to the present invention has a high degree of graphitization.
This can be theoretically inferred from the fact that among the fibrous nanocarbons 15 composed of the close-packed stacked layers of only the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12, the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure is produced at 700° C. or lower, and the interplanar distance (d002) of its hexagonal carbon layers is less than 0.500 nm, as shown in Table 1 below.
Models used: Rigaku Geigerflex/30 mA, 40 kV, Stepwise scan Calculation of XRD properties according to Gakushin Method
The fibrous nanocarbon 15 according to the present invention comprises the aforementioned carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 closely packed in a three-dimensional direction. A schematic view of the stack of the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12, which is an example of this stacked state, is shown in
Representative structures of the fibrous nanocarbon 15, which comprises a plurality of the carbon nano-fibrous rod clusters 13 gathered three-dimensionally, are classified, for example, into three forms, a feather structure and a tubular structure as well as the columnar structure. Differences among these structures are not clear, but the shape of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 is assumed to change according to differences in the catalyst and the manufacturing conditions.
FIGS. 11(a) to 11(c) are schematic views of the above three forms of the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13.
The first form is a form in which the carbon nano-fibrous rods are arranged at an angle (a) of greater than 0 degree but smaller than 20 degrees with respect to an axis (X) perpendicular to an axis (Y) in the stacking direction (fiber axis direction). This is called the columnar fibrous nanocarbon cluster 13A (
The second form is a form in which the carbon nano-fibrous rods are arranged at an angle (β) of greater than 20 degrees but smaller than 80 degrees with respect to the axis (X) perpendicular to the axis (Y) in the stacking direction (fiber axis direction). This is called the feather-shaped fibrous nanocarbon cluster 13B (
As shown in
The third form is a form in which the carbon nano-fibrous rods are arranged at an angle (y) of from 80 degrees to 88 degrees with respect to the axis (X) perpendicular to the axis (Y) in the stacking direction (fiber axis direction). This is called the tubular fibrous nanocarbon cluster 13C (
FIGS. 12(a) to 12(d) are schematic views of examples of the columnar carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster.
FIGS. 12(b) and 12(c) show a state in which one or more carbon nano-fibrous rod clusters 13A are disposed parallel, and the central axes of the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 are rendered parallel. That is, in
As shown in
As shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), moreover, it is also possible to form the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13 of a rectangular tubular form in which the nano-gap 14 is present interiorly in a plane condition (see
FIGS. 15(a) to 15(c) are high resolution transmission microscope (HRTEM) photographs of the fibrous nanocarbon 15. FIGS. 16(a) to 16(c) are scanning tunneling electron microscope (STM) photographs of the fibrous nanocarbon 15. From these photographs, it is confirmed that the shape of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 structured in three modes, columnar structure, feather structure, and tubular structure, is nearly hexagonal or nearly pentagonal.
The carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13A of the columnar structure has an axial width of the order of 15 to 20 nm. Thus, the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure, which is constructed of the carbon nano-fibrous rod clusters 13A arranged sideways in four rows, can be known to have an axial width of 60 to 80 nm. Consequently, it follows that the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure with an axial width of 200 nm comprises the carbon nano-fibrous rod clusters 13A arranged laterally parallel in at least 10 rows.
Such fibrous nanocarbon 15 is synthesized by using a pure transition metal, typified by iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) or nickel (Ni), singly or as an alloy, as a catalyst, and bringing carbon monoxide or a hydrocarbon, such as methane (CH4), ethylene (C2H6) or propane (C3H8), into contact with the catalyst for a certain period of time in a gas mixture with hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 0 to 90%) at a temperature in the range of 400 to 1,200° C.
A preferred manufacturing example concerned with the production of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure is as follows:
An iron catalyst is prepared by the precipitation method (Best, R. J., Russell, W. W., J. Amer. Soc. 76, 838(1954), Sinfelt, J. H., Carter, J. L., and Yates, D. J. C., J. Catal. 24, 283(1972)) with the use of iron nitrate.
The prepared iron catalyst (30 mg) is placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and is reduced for 0.5 to 10 hours at 500° C. in a quartz tube with an internal diameter of 4.5 cm, with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction is performed for 0.25 to 3 hours at a temperature of 450 to 620° C., with a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 10-90%) being flowed at 100 to 200 sccm. By so doing, fibrous nanocarbon 15 of a columnar structure is produced in a predetermined amount (2 to 1,500 mg).
Next, FIGS. 17(a) and 17(b) show an example of feather-structured fibrous nanocarbon in which the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 are closely packed in a three-dimensional direction so as to have a certain angle with the axis, thereby constituting a carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13B. As shown in FIGS. 17(a), 17(b), the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13B has a herringbone structure in which the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 are opposed to each other at a predetermined angle. As shown in
The feather-structured fibrous nanocarbon 15, as stated earlier, is configured such that the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 are arranged at an angle (β) of greater than 20 degrees but less than 80 degrees with respect to an axis (X) perpendicular to the axis (Y) in the stacking direction (direction of the fiber axis) (see
The hexagonal carbon layers 11 of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 of the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13B have an interplanar spacing (d002) therebetween of less than 0.500 nm, which is similar to the magnitude (0.3354 nm) of the interplanar spacing (d002) of pure graphite. Thus, the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 has a high degree of graphitization.
This can be inferred from the fact that based on high resolution transmission electron microscope photographs of fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the feather structure shown in FIGS. 18(a) to 18(c), the axial width of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12, the number of the constituent hexagonal carbon layers 11, and the two-dimensional width of their nano-aggregate in the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the feather structure are in practical agreement with those in the fibrous nanocarbon 15 comprising the packed stack of only the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12.
A concrete manufacturing example concerned with the production of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the feather structure is as follows:
The production of the fibrous nanocarbon cluster 13B of the feather structure is performed in the same manner as in the production of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure, except that a nickel catalyst or a nickel-iron alloy catalyst (nickel content: 70-90% (weight ratio)) is prepared by the same precipitation method with the use of nickel nitrate or a mixture of nickel nitrate and iron nitrate instead of iron nitrate.
Then, the above catalyst is reduced for 0.5 to 10 hours at 500° C., with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed at 100 sccm, by the same method and by means of the same apparatus as in the aforementioned experiments. Then, the reaction is performed for 0.25 to 3 hours at a temperature of 450 to 620° C., with a gas mixture of ethylene and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 10-90%) being flowed at 100 to 200 sccm. By so doing, fibrous nanocarbon 15 of a herringbone structure is produced in a predetermined amount (2 to 5,400 mg).
Next, FIGS. 19(a) to 19(c) show an example of tubular-structure fibrous nanocarbon 15 in which the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 are joined together at the opposite ends in the axial direction so as to have a predetermined number of knots in the axial direction, thereby constituting a carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13C. As shown in FIGS. 19(a) to 19(c), the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13C of the tubular structure comprises the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 joined together at opposite end portions in the axial direction.
The tubular-structure fibrous nanocarbon cluster 13C, as stated earlier, is configured such that the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 are arranged at an angle (y) of from 80 degrees to 88 degrees with respect to the axis (X) perpendicular to the axis (Y) in the stacking direction (direction of the fiber axis) (see
The hexagonal carbon layers 11 of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 of the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13C have an interplanar spacing (d002) therebetween of less than 0.3400 nm, which is similar to the magnitude (0.3354 nm) of the interplanar spacing (d002) of pure graphite. Thus, the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 has a high degree of graphitization.
This can be theoretically inferred from the fact that among the fibrous nanocarbons 15 composed of the close-packed stack of only the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12, the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the tubular structure, in the as-prepared stage (heat treatment at 700° C. or lower), gives an interplanar distance (d002) of less than 0.3400 nm to the nano-aggregate composed of the hexagonal carbon layers 11.
A concrete working example concerned with the production of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the tubular structure is as follows:
An iron catalyst or a nickel-iron alloy (nickel content (weight ratio): 30-70%) catalyst is prepared by the same precipitation method in the aforementioned experiments with the use of iron nitrate or a mixture of nickel nitrate and iron nitrate. The prepared catalyst is reduced for 0.5 to 10 hours at 500° C., with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed at 100 sccm, by the same method and by means of the same apparatus as in the aforementioned experiments. Then, the reaction is performed for 0.25 to 3 hours at a temperature of 620 to 655° C., with a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 10-90%) being flowed at 100 to 200 sccm. By so doing, fibrous nanocarbon 15 of a tubular structure is produced in a predetermined amount (2 to 1,500 mg).
Next, an explanation will be offered for the heat treatment of the fibrous nanocarbon 15, which comprises the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13A of the columnar structure, at a temperature of 1,600° C. or higher under vacuum or in an atmosphere of an inert gas.
The fibrous nanocarbon 15 comprising the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13 according to the present invention, as shown in the aforementioned Table 1, has a high degree of graphitization in the as-prepared state when taking a columnar structure or a tubular structure, and thus possesses adequate properties as an artificial graphite-based highly functional material; if this material is graphitized at 2,000° C. or higher, it has a high degree of graphitization when taking any of the structures, including a herringbone structure.
As for the heat treatment conditions, heat treatment is performed at a temperature of 1,600° C. or higher, preferably 2,000° C. or higher, more preferably 2,800° C. or higher. If the heat treatment temperature is lower than 1,600° C., the degree of graphitization is low.
Upon heat treatment, the ends of the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 made of the hexagonal carbon layers 11 in the surface portion of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 are joined in a loop form two-dimensionally, or in a circular or hexagonal domic cross sectional shape three-dimensionally, thereby constituting one unit.
From the aforementioned FIGS. 10(a), 10(b) showing the high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) photographs of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure before and after graphitization, it can be confirmed that the end faces (edge surfaces) of the hexagonal carbon layers before high-temperature treatment are joined in a loop form two-dimensionally after high-temperature treatment.
FIGS. 21(a) to 21(c) are photographs of the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13A constituting the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure, which was treated at a high temperature of 2,800° C., the photographs being taken at varying angles (−30 degrees, 0 degree, +30 degrees) of a transmission electron beam of a high resolution transmission electron microscope.
FIGS. 23 to 25 are photographs (×600,000 magnification) of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 shown in
These drawings have confirmed that when the angle is changed, the position of the looped end at the front end portion looks changed. As a result, it has been confirmed that the looped end face is formed two-dimensionally by joining of the ends of the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 composed of the hexagonal carbon layers 11. It has also been found that a 6- to 8-layered structure forms an aggregate unit, and one such unit constitutes the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12.
FIGS. 29(a) to 29(c) are high-resolution scanning tunneling electron microscope (STM) photographs of three types of fibrous nanocarbons 15 before and after high-temperature heat treatment. The (10)-planes comprising the hexagonal carbon layer 11 (i.e., 100-plane, 110-plane), theoretically, cannot be observed under a scanning tunneling electron microscope, and thus the edge plane cannot be observed at a high magnification. However, the carbon nano-fibrous rod 12 can be observed from all photographs of the three types of fibrous nanocarbons 15 before heat treatment. Furthermore, a three-dimensional close-packed stack of the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 can be confirmed to constitute the fibrous nanocarbon 15.
FIGS. 30(a) to 30(c) are high resolution transmission electron microscope photographs of the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13A in the as-prepared condition (prepared at 600° C. using an iron catalyst) constituting the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure, and structures after treatment at high temperatures of 2,000° C. and 2,800° C.
As shown in the aforementioned Table 1, the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure before graphitization and that after graphitization are not very different. However, the transmission electron microscope photographs of FIGS. 31(a) to 31(c) and the Raman spectra of
This is clear revelation that the heat treatment at 2,000° C. or higher has converted all of the edge planes (10-planes) of the hexagonal carbon layers 11 of the carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13A, which constitutes the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure, into dome-shaped basal planes (002-planes) three-dimensionally as a result of joining of the ends. Based on these results, the fibrous nanocarbon 15 of the columnar structure before heat treatment was confirmed to contain large amounts of edge planes (10-planes) of the hexagonal carbon layers 11 which are scarcely present in ordinary highly graphitized carbons other than HOPG.
As described above, the fibrous nanocarbon 15 made up of the carbon nano-fibrous rods 12 according to the present invention has a high degree of graphitization when taking a columnar structure or a tubular structure. Thus, it is preferred as a high conductivity (heat, electricity) filler, and can be expected to find application making use of its high degree of graphitization, such as an electrode material of a lithium secondary battery, an electromagnetic wave shielding material, or a catalyst carrier for fuel cells or organic reactions. Since it has a large surface area when taking a feather structure, moreover, it can be expected to be used as an electrode material for super capacitors, an occluding material for methane and hydrogen, a desulfurizing material for SOx, or a denitrating material for NOx.
<Method and Apparatus for Producing Fibrous Nanocarbon>
As shown in
The fluidized bed reactor 103 is formed from a fluidized bed portion 103A forming a fluidized bed, and a free board portion 103B in communication with an upper part of the fluidized bed portion 103A. The type of reaction of the fluidized bed includes a bubble fluidized bed type, and a jet fluidized bed type. Either type may be used for the present invention. The free board portion 103B preferably has a larger channel sectional area than that of the fluidized bed portion 103A.
In the present embodiment, a particle recovery means 112 for recovering the scattered particles 110 is interposed in the gas discharge line 111. As the recovery means 112, a means for catching or recovering particles, such as a cyclone or a filter, can be named, for example. The cyclone separates the scattered particles 110 contained in the gas G by a centrifugal force, and the separated scattered particles 110 containing the fibrous nanocarbon 15 can be recovered from the bottom or the like of the cyclone.
In the present embodiment, an ordinary fluid material, such as silica sand or alumina, is not used, but the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is used, as the fluid material forming the fluidized bed. In the present embodiment, the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 forms the fluidized bed, and the carbon material 106 is supplied to produce the fibrous nanocarbon 15. Then, as will be described later, the fluid material 101 is finely divided or treated in other manner to eliminate its function of the fluid material so that the fibrous nanocarbon 15 growing on the catalyst can be easily recovered.
As a result, when the fibrous nanocarbon 15 is to be produced, the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 (catalyst) is present uniformly in the fluidized bed reactor 103. Thus, the efficiency of contact of the catalyst with the carbon material 106 is satisfactory, and a uniform reaction can be performed. In recovering the fibrous nanocarbon 15 growing on the catalyst, the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is divided into fine pieces until converted into its constitutional units or its aggregate units. By this procedure, the efficiency of separation of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 growing on each catalyst can be increased, and the fibrous nanocarbon 15 with uniform properties can be easily obtained.
FIGS. 33(a) to 33(e) are schematic views of the production of a dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101, and a process for producing fibrous nanocarbon 15 from a carbon material 106 with the use of the fluid material 101.
The method for producing the fibrous nanocarbon 15 according to the present invention uses, as a fluid material, the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 having a carrier 122, which supports a metal catalyst 121 thereon, bound via a binder 123, and includes (1) a first gas supply step of supplying a reducing gas 104, (2) a carbon material supply step of supplying the carbon material 106 in a gaseous state to produce a carbon nano-fibrous rod 15 in the presence of the catalyst 121 of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101, and (3) a second gas supply step of supplying a carbon-free inert gas 108 to eliminate the fluidizing function of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101.
The dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 33(a) and 33(b), comprises the carrier 122 supporting the catalyst 121 bound by the binder 123. In FIGS. 33(c) to 33(e), the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is shown by its contour alone.
In the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101, if the catalyst 121 is supported in a finer state on the carrier 122 for its carriage thereon, the fiber diameter of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 can be rendered smaller. Thus, the fine catalyst 121 can be supported on the carrier 122, for example, by controlling conditions, such as the concentration of the nitrate of the catalyst metal, the type of a surface active agent added, and drying conditions.
During the finely dividing step for the catalyst 121 with the use of a reducing gas 104 to be described later, the smaller the particle diameter in the initial stage, the higher the degree of fine division becomes. Thus, the tiny particle size of the catalyst 121 for support on the carrier 122 is important.
For example, if the particle diameter of the catalyst 121 supported initially is 1,000 nm, the fine division gives rise to a particle diameter of 10 nm. If the particle diameter of the catalyst 121 supported initially is 100 nm, the fine division results in a particle diameter of 1 nm.
Then, as shown in
Then, as shown in
The carbon material 106 may be any compound containing carbon. Examples are alkanes such as methane, ethane, propane, and hexane, unsaturated organic compounds such as ethylene, propylene, and acetylene, aromatic compounds such as benzene and toluene, petroleum and coal (including coal-converted gas). However, these materials are not restrictive of the present invention.
The above-mentioned fibrous nanocarbon 15 forms and grows, starting on the catalyst 121 of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101. To obtain thinner fibrous nanocarbon 15, therefore, it suffices to render fine the catalyst 121 supported on the carrier 122, in metallizing the catalyst 121 by the reducing action of the reducing gas 104 in the atmosphere, such as hydrogen (H2) or carbon monoxide (CO), in at least one of the first gas supply step, the carbon supply step, and the fibrous nanocarbon generation step.
For example, when the particle diameter of the catalyst 121 in the initial stage is of the order of 100 nm, the catalyst can be broken by fine division to a size on the order of 1 nm. Accordingly, the fiber diameter and the fiber structure of the resulting fibrous nanocarbon 15 can be controlled by regulating various conditions, such as the reducing gas 104 and temperature, in each of the above steps (the first gas supply step, the carbon supply step, and the fibrous nanocarbon generation step).
Then, upon completion of the reaction, the inert gas 108 containing no carbon is supplied, as shown in
The fluid material deprived of its fluid function changes into an agglomerate or binding product of the carrier 122, and takes a finely divided form. This finely divided material is discharged outside, as scattered particles 110, together with the gas G, through the discharge line 111 via the free board portion 103B of the fluidized bed reactor 103, and is recovered by the particle recovery means 112 (see
The fibrous nanocarbon 15 can be separated from the catalyst 121 or the carrier 122, for example, by eliminating the catalyst 121 or the carrier 122 at the root portion from which the fibrous nanocarbon 15 grows. An example of this separation is shown in
As shown in
The dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 has an average particle diameter of 0.2 to 20 nm so as to be able to perform a satisfactory flowing function within the fluidized bed reactor 103. This is because by setting the average particle diameter of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 in the above range, the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 can be stirred vigorously within the fluidized bed reactor 103, with the result that a uniform site of reaction can be formed.
The dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 can be prepared by a publicly known granulation method (for example, a self-sufficient granulation method such as rotating pan type granulation, rotating drum type granulation, or fluidized bed type granulation, or a forced granulation method such as compression type granulation or extrusion type granulation).
The flow velocity within the fluidized bed reactor 103 is preferably 0.02 to 0.2 m/s, if the particle diameter of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is 0.2 mm. This is because, as shown in
The superficial velocity of the fluidized bed may be set by selecting different optimum values from within the range of 2 to 8 times the fluidization start velocity (Umf) of a fluid medium used, depending on the conditions such as the raw material, additives, etc. used. That is, the superficial velocity is set at a gas flow velocity 2 to 8 times as high as the fluidization start velocity. This superficial velocity is maintained constantly at the selected optimum value, mainly, by controlling the amount of gas supplied from the inert gas supply means.
Within the fluidized bed reactor 103, the temperature of the contact reaction between the catalyst 121 of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 and the carbon material 106 is preferably 300 to 1,300° C., and the pressure is preferably 0.1 to 25 atmospheres. This is because if the above temperature and pressure are outside the above ranges, a satisfactory fibrous nanocarbon 15 cannot be produced.
In the reaction, the carbon material 106 is brought into contact with the catalyst 121 of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 for a certain period of time in the reducing gas 104 under a hydrogen partial pressure of 0 to 90%, whereby the fibrous nanocarbon 15 is obtained. The supply of H2 in this reaction is intended for promoting the growth of the fibrous nanocarbon 15 on the catalyst 121 of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101. As a source of H2, hydrogen in the carbon material 106 supplied can be utilized.
In each of the first reducing gas supply step, the carbon material supply step, and the second gas supply step, the conditions, such as temperature, pressure, time, and gas atmosphere, may be controlled independently of each other. Concretely, when the reduction and fine division of the catalyst 121 are to be performed in the first reducing gas supply step, the temperature may be rendered lower than in the manufacturing conditions for the fibrous nanocarbon 15 in the carbon material supply step.
The dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is composed of a product formed by supporting the catalyst 121 on the surface of the carrier 122, or an agglomerate of the products, as shown in
The material for the carrier 122 includes, for example, carbon black (CB), alumina (Al2O3), silica (Si), silica sand (SiO2), and aluminosilicate. However, these materials are not restrictive, and any material having the function of supporting the catalyst 121 is acceptable.
The above carrier 122 preferably has an average particle diameter of 200 μm or less. The carrier 122 having the catalyst 121 supported on the surface, or the agglomerate of the carriers 122 is formed into a binding product by use of the binder 123, whereby the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 having an average particle diameter of 0.2 to 20 mm is prepared.
The catalyst 121 includes, for example, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu and Mo, or a mixture of at least two of these metals, but the present invention is not limited to them. For example, if Fe is used as the catalyst 121 and carbon black is used as the carrier 122, it is recommendable to charge carbon black into an aqueous solution of iron nitrate or iron acetate, thereby supporting Fe on the surface of carbon black. As a result, the catalyst 121 is supported on the surface 122a or in pores 122b of the carrier 122, as indicated in the enlarged view of
A polymer-based adhesive, an inorganic adhesive, or other material having a binding action, for example, can be named as the above binder 123.
As the polymer-based adhesive, it is preferred to use, for example, a binder comprising a thermosetting polymeric material, such as phenolic resin (maximum operating temperature: ˜360° C.), urea resin (maximum operating temperature: ˜288° C.), epoxy resin (maximum operating temperature: ˜288° C.), or polyimide resin (maximum operating temperature: ˜349° C.). This is because, as will be described later, the carbon material 106 is supplied at a high temperature (300° C. or higher) within the fluidized bed reactor 103 to produce fibrous nanocarbon 15, so that refluidization (melting) in the high temperature condition can be suppressed.
SiO2 and Al2O3, for example, can be named as the inorganic adhesive, but the present invention is not limited to them.
Tars and heavy oil, for example, can be named as other binding materials having a binding action, but the present invention is not limited to them.
In the present invention, as will be shown in Examples to be described later, fibrous nanocarbon 15 is produced at a temperature on the order of 480° C., and then the inert gas 108 containing no carbon is supplied. The system is heated in a stroke to about 800° C. by the heating means 102 to decompose the binder 123 thermally and finely divide the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 until it is restored to the carrier 122.
Thermal decomposition is considered to proceed to some degree under the 480° C. conditions, but actually caulking as well as thermal decomposition takes place under the oxygen-free conditions, and sintering of carbon may proceed. In this case, as stated earlier, it is recommendable to perform gasification with H2 at 800° C. or higher, or burning in an environment where fibrous nanocarbon 15 is not burned.
The tars can be gasified and removed using H2 or CO at a temperature of 800° C. or higher.
The same members as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same numerals as in the first embodiment, and their explanations will be omitted.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of partition plates 202 are provided within the fluidized bed reactor 103 in such a manner as to suspend downward and rise upward alternately in a vertical axis direction, thereby dividing the interior while forming a fluidized bed. In the drawing, a first room 203A-11, a second room 203A-12 and a third room 203A-13 are located in this order from the left to constitute the first flow chamber 201A-1, a fourth room 203A-24, a fifth room 203A-25, a sixth room 203A-26 and a seventh room 203A-27 are located in this order to constitute the second flow chamber 203A-2, and an eighth room 203A-38 and a ninth room 203A-39 are located in this order to constitute the third flow chamber 203A-3. However, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement. The free board portion 103B is common to the first, second and third flow chambers.
In the present embodiment, a fluid material supply means 204 for supplying a dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 to the first flow chamber 203A-1 is provided to supply the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 successively. By this contrivance, continuous production can be performed.
For example, if the reaction is performed for 9 hours in the whole of the fluidized bed reactor 103, the positions of the partition plates 202 and the capacities of the respective chambers are adjusted so that 7 hours of dwelling in the first flow chamber 203A-1, 1 hour of dwelling in the second flow chamber 203A-2, and 1 hour of dwelling in the third flow chamber 203A-3 can be carried out. By so doing, the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 can be made to dwell in each chamber for an arbitrary period of time.
In the first flow chamber 203A-1, the reducing gas 106 is supplied to perform the catalytic function of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101. In the second flow chamber 203A-2, the carbon material gas 106 is supplied and brought into contact with the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 performing the catalytic function to produce fibrous nanocarbon 15 with good efficiency. In the third flow chamber 203A-3, the carbon-free inert gas 108 is supplied and a higher temperature than the reaction temperature is achieved to eliminate the catalytic function of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 and finely divide this material 101, thereby scattering it as scattered particles 110 with a particle diameter of 40 to 100 nm, along with a gas G, for the purpose of recovery. The dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101, which does not scatter, is separately recovered by a recovery means.
As another example of the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a fluidized bed reactor having a fluidized bed portion constituted from the first flow chamber and the second flow chamber, and a fluidized bed reactor having a fluidized bed portion constituted from the third flow chamber.
As shown in
The first fluidized bed reactor 301, the second fluidized bed reactor 303, and the third fluidized bed reactor 305, respectively, have fluidized bed portions 301A, 303A and 305A, and free board portions 301B, 303B and 305B, similarly to the first embodiment.
In the first fluidized bed reactor 301, the reducing gas 106 is supplied to perform the catalytic function of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101. Then, the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is supplied to the second fluidized bed reactor 303 by the transport means 302 using airflow transport or the like. In the second fluidized bed reactor 303, the carbon material gas 106 is supplied and brought into contact with the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 performing the catalytic function to produce fibrous nanocarbon 15 with good efficiency. Then, the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is supplied to the third fluidized bed reactor 305 by the transport means 304 using airflow transport or the like. In the third fluidized bed reactor 305, the carbon-free inert gas 108 is supplied and a higher temperature than the reaction temperature is achieved to eliminate the catalytic function of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 and finely divide this material 101, thereby scattering it as scattered particles 110 with a particle diameter of 40 to 100 nm, along with a gas G, for the purpose of recovery. By this procedure, fibrous nanocarbon 15 can be produced continuously. The dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101, which does not scatter, is separately recovered by a recovery means.
As the transport means 302 and 304, not only means using the above-mentioned airflow transport or the like, but also means relying on feeding transport using a feeder can be named. However, these means are not restrictive, and any means capable of transporting the fluid material 101 or the like can be employed.
The volumes inside the reactors 301, 303 and 305 may be changed according to the dwell time of the fluid material 101 within the reactors 301, 303 and 305. For example, if the average dwell time is set to be 7 hours for the first fluidized bed reactor 301 and 1 hour for each of the second fluidized bed reactor 303 and the third fluidized bed reactor 305, the volume of the first fluidized bed reactor 301 is set at 7 times the volume of each of the second and third fluidized bed reactors 303, 305, whereby the reaction conditions can be adjusted.
Moreover, the first to third fluidized bed reactors 301, 303, 305 can be configured to have the same volume, and 7 of the first fluidized bed reactors 301 can be connected together in series.
Furthermore, a plurality of the first fluidized bed reactors 301 can be provided, where necessary, to adjust the throughput. Similarly, a plurality of the second fluidized bed reactors 303 can be provided, where necessary, to adjust the throughput. Likewise, a plurality of the third fluidized bed reactors 305 can be provided, where necessary, to adjust the throughput.
As shown in
For example, the temperature conditions of the heating means 102 of the second-stage second fluidized bed reactor 403-2 are changed (for example, the temperature is rendered 100° C. higher) in comparison with the temperature conditions of the heating means 102 of the first-stage second fluidized bed reactor 403-1. By so doing, the reaction temperature is made 480° C. within the first-stage second fluidized bed reactor 403-1, for example, whereby a carbon nano-fibrous rod cluster 13B of a feather structure is grown on the catalyst 121 of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 (see
Concretely, if the particle diameter of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is set at 0.5 mm, for example, the flow velocity in the upper low-velocity side fluidized bed portion 503A-2 of the fluidized bed portion 103A is controlled to a value of the order of 0.1 m/s for prevention of scattering, while the flow velocity in the lower high-velocity side fluidized bed portion 503A-1 of the fluidized bed portion 103A is set to be a value of the order of 0.2 to 1.0 m/s, whereby the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is vigorously stirred to achieve the fine division of the fluid material 101 due to wear.
As shown in
Concretely, an N2 gas or an inert gas, as the high velocity gas 601, is blown in from the high velocity gas blowing means 602 at a flow velocity of 10 m/s, whereby the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 is vigorously stirred to achieve the fine division of the fluid material 101 due to wear.
As shown in
That is, the fifth and sixth embodiments are designed to form a high flow velocity zone locally in the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 within the fluidized bed reactor 103 in the second gas supply step. This procedure results in a mutual collision of the fluid material 101, and a collision between the fluid material 101 and the wall surface of the reactor 103 or the collision member 503. Alternatively, blowing-in of the high velocity gas 601 is carried out. As a result, fine division of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material 101 due to wear and breakage is promoted to increase the efficiency of recovery of the fibrous nanocarbon 15.
The resulting fibrous nanocarbon 15 is preferably used for various composite materials, gas adsorbing materials, and bio-materials, such as transparent conductive materials (conductive ink, conductive film, conductive plastic), ITO substitutes, transparent electromagnetic wave shielding materials, antistatic materials (solar cell, mirror, etc.), transparent ultraviolet ray shielding materials (for example, for cosmetic use, for vehicle glass coating use, etc.), high grade electric/heat conductive materials (rolls of printer, facsimile, etc.), high grade electrically conductive and heat dissipating devices, ceramic mixing materials, carbon/carbon composites, conductive materials of batteries, gas adsorbing or occluding materials for methane, etc., hydrogen occluding materials, hydrogen separating materials, separators for butane, capacitor electrode materials, electric demineralization electrode materials, seawater decomposing (electrolytic cell) oxygen electrode materials, battery materials (lithium secondary battery, NaS battery, air secondary battery, and long life alkaline battery conductive materials), FED materials, nano-lithography semiconductors, lead wires, MLUDI (gene search, diagnostic materials), nano-brain wave probes, biocompatible materials, high selectivity catalyst carriers, high activity catalyst carriers, graphite catalyst substitutes, high activity catalyst carriers (for example, for Pt, Pt—Rh), thin film separators, air pollutant (SOx, NOx, ozone) adsorbents, water pollutant adsorbents, electrode materials for demineralization purification, various gas sensors, and conductive paper.
According to the present invention, therefore, the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material comprising the metal catalyst-supporting carrier bound via the binder is used as a fluid material, and there are provided the first gas supply step of supplying the reducing gas, the carbon material supply step of supplying the carbon material in a gaseous state to produce a carbon nano-fibrous rod in the presence of the catalyst of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material, and the second gas supply step of supplying the carbon-free inert gas to eliminate the fluidizing function of the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material. Thus, the catalyst is uniformly present in the fluidized bed. As a result, the efficiency of contact of the catalyst with the raw material is satisfactory, and a uniform reaction can be performed. In recovering the fibrous nanocarbon growing on the catalyst, the fluid material concurrently serving the catalytic function is divided into fine pieces until converted into its constitutional units or its aggregates. By this procedure, the efficiency of separation of the fibrous nanocarbon growing on each catalyst can be increased, and the catalyst with uniform properties can be easily obtained.
<Carbon Nano-Fibrous Rod and Fibrous Nanocarbon>
Preferred examples of the carbon nano-fibrous rod and fibrous nanocarbon according to the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is in no way limited to these examples:
Example 1 is fibrous nanocarbon of a columnar structure.
An iron catalyst was prepared by the precipitation method (Best, R. J., Russell, W. W., J. Amer. Soc. 76, 838(1954), Sinfelt, J. H., Carter, J. L., and Yates, D. J. C., J. Catal. 24, 283(1972)) with the use of iron nitrate.
Concretely, 29.54 g of iron nitrate (FeNO3.9H2O: a first class grade chemical, Wako Pure Chemical Industries) was added to 200 ml of pure water in order to prepare 4 g of an iron catalyst, and the mixture was slowly stirred to prepare a solution. To the solution, ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH4HCO3, a first class grade chemical, Junsei Yakuhin Kogyo) was added with stirring until a precipitate (FeCO3.xH2O) was formed. Then, the precipitate was filtered off, and purified with pure water until ammonium hydrogen carbonate vanished. The purified precipitate was vacuum dried (for 8 hours at 80° C.), and then heat-treated (for 5 hours at 450° C.) in an air atmosphere with the use of a horizontal Tanmann-furnace to obtain Fe2O3.
The resulting Fe2O3 was placed on an alumina boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced (for 48 hours at 480° C.) in an alumina tube (internal diameter 10 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 10%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm, thereby obtaining 4.02 g of an iron catalyst.
Then, 50 mg of the iron catalyst prepared by the above-described method was placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced (for 2 hours at 500° C.) in a quartz tube (internal diameter 4.5 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction was performed (for 60 minutes at 580° C.), with a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed at 100 sccm. By so doing, fibrous nanocarbon was produced in a predetermined amount (1,252 mg).
The present example is an example in which the fibrous nanocarbon of Example 1 was heat-treated at a high temperature.
That is, the fibrous nonocarbon prepared in Example 1 was heated-treated for 10 minutes at 2,000° C. and 2,800° C. in an argon atmosphere.
The present example is fibrous nanocarbon of a feather structure.
A nickel catalyst was prepared by the precipitation method of Example 1 with the use of nickel nitrate.
Concretely, 19.82 g of nickel nitrate (NiNO3.xH2O: a first class grade chemical, Wako Pure Chemical Industries) was added to 200 ml of pure water in order to prepare 4 g of a nickel catalyst, and the mixture was slowly stirred to prepare a solution. To the solution, ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH4HCO3, a first class grade chemical, Junsei Yakuhin Kogyo) was added with stirring until a precipitate (NiCO3.xH2O) was formed. Then, the precipitate was filtered off, and purified with pure water until ammonium hydrogen carbonate vanished. The purified precipitate was vacuum dried (for 8 hour sat 80° C.), and then heat-treated (for 5 hours at 450° C.) in an air atmosphere with the use of a horizontal Tanmann-furnace to obtain nickel oxide.
The resulting nickel oxide was placed on an alumina boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced (for 48 hours at 480° C.) in an alumina tube (internal diameter 10 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 10%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm, thereby obtaining 4.01 g of an iron catalyst.
Then, 50 mg of the nickel catalyst prepared by the above-described method was placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced (for 2 hours at 500° C.) in a quartz tube (internal diameter 4.5 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction was performed (for 60 minutes at 580° C.), with a gas mixture of ethylene and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed at 100 sccm. By so doing, fibrous nanocarbon was produced in a predetermined amount (60 mg).
The present example is an example in which the fibrous nanocarbon of Example 3 was heat-treated at a high temperature.
That is, the fibrous nonocarbon prepared in Example 3 was heated-treated for 10 minutes at 2,000° C. and 2,800° C. in an argon atmosphere.
The present example is fibrous nanocarbon of a tubular structure.
A iron-nickel alloy catalyst was prepared by the precipitation method of Example 1 with the use of iron nitrate and nickel nitrate.
Concretely, 11.90 g of nickel nitrate (NiNO3.xH2O: a first class grade chemical, Wako Pure Chemical Industries) and 11.80 g of iron nitrate (FeNO39H2O: a first class grade chemical, Wako Pure Chemical Industries) were added to 200 ml of pure water in order to prepare 4 g of an iron-nickel catalyst, and the mixture was slowly stirred to prepare a solution. To the solution, ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH4HCO3, a first class grade chemical, Junsei Yakuhin Kogyo) was added with stirring until a precipitate (NiCO3 xH2O) was formed. Then, the precipitate was filtered off, and purified with pure water until ammonium hydrogen carbonate vanished. Then, the precipitate was filtered off, and purified with pure water until ammonium hydrogen carbonate vanished. The purified precipitate was vacuum dried (for 8 hours at 80° C.), and then heat-treated (for 5 hours at 450° C.) in an air atmosphere with the use of a horizontal Tanmann-furnace to obtain iron-nickel oxide.
The resulting iron-nickel oxide was placed on an alumina boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced (for 48 hours at 480° C.) in an alumina tube (internal diameter 10 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 10%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm, thereby obtaining 4.05 g of an iron-nickel catalyst.
Then, 50 mg of the iron-nickel catalyst prepared by the above-described method was placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced (for 2 hours at 500° C.) in a quartz tube (internal diameter 4.5 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction was performed (for 60 minutes at 630° C.), with a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 80%) being flowed at 200 sccm. By so doing, fibrous nanocarbon was produced in a predetermined amount (432 mg).
The present example is an example in which the fibrous nanocarbon of Example 5 was heat-treated at a high temperature.
Concretely, the fibrous nonocarbon prepared in Example 5 was heated-treated for 10 minutes at 2,000° C. and 2,800° C. in an argon atmosphere.
<<Measurement of X-ray Diffraction>>
The fibrous nanocarbons (150 mg) obtained in Examples 1 to 6 were each mixed with 15 mg of standard silicon, and diffraction at angles of 5° to 90° was performed (CuKα rays, 40 kV, 30 mA, stepwise method) using a wide angle X-ray diffractometer (a product of Rigaku), whereby diffraction patterns were obtained.
From the resulting X-ray patterns, the interplanar distance (d002), the size of the stack (Lc002) and the size of the crystallite (La110) were calculated by the Gakushin method. The results are shown in the aforementioned Table 1.
<<Observation by Electric Field Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope>>
To investigate the fiber diameter and structure of the fibrous nanocarbon obtained in each of Examples 1 to 4, the fibrous nanocarbon was observed under an electric field scanning transmission electron microscope (JEM-2010F).
Concretely, a trace amount of the fibrous nanocarbon obtained in each of Examples 1 to 4 was placed in n-butanol, and completely dispersed by ultrasonic dispersion until a pale transparent color appeared. One or two drops of the resulting dispersion were added to a fine net sample cell, and the sample cell was dried for a day in air at the ordinary temperature, and then observed.
The results are shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) (Examples 1, 2) and FIGS. 18(a) to 18(c) (Examples 3, 4). FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are enlarged (to 8 times) photographs of images observed at 400,000× magnification. FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b) are photographs of images observed at 400,000× magnification, and
<Observation by Scanning Tunneling Electron Microscope>>
The fibrous nanocarbon obtained in each of Examples 1 to 6 was observed under a scanning tunneling electron microscope (Nanoscope III (DI, U.S.A.).
Concretely, a trace amount of the fibrous nanocarbon obtained in each of Examples 1 to 6 was placed in ethanol, and completely dispersed ultrasonically. One drop of the resulting dispersion were added to HOPG, dried for 8 hours in air, and observed (tunneling voltage 1V, tunneling current 3.0 nA).
The results are shown in FIGS. 30(a) to 30(c) (Examples 1, 2),
Next will be shown Comparative Examples.
The iron catalyst (50 mg) prepared by the precipitation method of the aforementioned Example 1 was placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced for 0.3 hour at 500° C. in a quartz tube (internal diameter 4.5 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction was performed for 60 minutes at a temperature of 580° C., with a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed at 100 sccm. However, fibrous nanocarbon was not produced.
The iron catalyst (50 mg) prepared by the precipitation method of the aforementioned Example 1 was placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced for 2 hours at 500° C. in a quartz tube (internal diameter 4.5 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction was performed for 60 minutes at a temperature of 580° C., with a carbon monoxide gas being flowed at 100 sccm. However, fibrous nanocarbon was not produced.
The nickel catalyst (50 mg) prepared by the precipitation method of the aforementioned Example 1 was placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced for 2 hours at 500° C. in a quartz tube (internal diameter 4.5 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction was performed for 60 minutes at a temperature of 580° C., with a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed at 100 sccm. However, fibrous nanocarbon was not produced.
The nickel catalyst (50 mg) prepared by the precipitation method of the aforementioned Example 1 was placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced for 2 hours at 450° C. in a quartz tube (internal diameter 4.5 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction was performed for 60 minutes at a temperature of 580° C., with a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed at 100 sccm. However, fibrous nanocarbon was not produced.
The nickel catalyst (50 mg) prepared by the precipitation method of the aforementioned Example 1 was placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced for 2 hours at 500° C. in a quartz tube (internal diameter 4.5 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction was performed for 60 minutes at a temperature of 680° C., with a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed at 100 sccm. However, fibrous nanocarbon was not produced.
The iron-nickel catalyst (50 mg) prepared by the method of the aforementioned Example 5 was placed on a quartz boat (length 10 mm, width 2.5 mm, depth 1.5 mm (external values)), and was reduced for 2 hours at 500° C. in a quartz tube (internal diameter 4.5 cm), with a gas mixture of hydrogen and helium (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed therethrough at 100 sccm. Then, the reaction was performed for 60 minutes at a temperature of 700° C., with a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (hydrogen partial pressure: 20%) being flowed at 200 sccm. As a result, nanocarbon was obtained in a predetermined amount (20 mg). When the nanocarbon was observed under a transmission electron microscope, however, a fibrous structure was not seen.
<<Method and Apparatus for Producing Fibrous Nanocarbon>>
Preferred examples of the method and apparatus for producing fibrous nanocarbon according to the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is in no way limited to these examples.
Fe—Ni (2/8) was used as a catalyst, and carbon black (“MS-3050B” (trade name), MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL (BET=43 m2/g, particle diameter=40 nm)) was used as a carrier. The catalyst (5%) was supported on the carrier. A polymer-based adhesive (maximum operating temperature: ˜360° C.) formed from a phenolic resin was used as a binder to granulate a dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material.
Using this dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material, fibrous nanocarbon was produced by means of the apparatus of the first embodiment shown in
H2/He (20/80) was used for the activation of the catalyst by the first gas supply, and pretreatment was performed for 7 hours. Then, ethylene (C2H4) was used as a carbon material, and C2H4/H2 (4/1) was supplied. Under these conditions, the reaction was carried out for 1 hour within a fluidized bed reactor at 480° C. to produce fibrous nanocarbon. After production of fibrous nanocarbon, the temperature was raised in an atmosphere of H2/He (20/80) to decompose the binder thermally, converting the dual-purpose catalyst/fluid material into fine particles, and scattering them for recovery by recovery means.
Microphotographs of the resulting fibrous nanocarbon are shown in FIGS. 46(a) and 46(b).
Fibrous nanocarbon was produced by the same procedure as that in Example 1, except that Ni—Mo (2/8) was used as the catalyst, titanium oxide (TiO2) was used as the carrier, and the reaction temperature was 560° C.
Photomicrographs of the resulting fibrous nanocarbon are shown in FIGS. 47(a) and 47(b).
Fibrous nanocarbon was produced by the same procedure as that in Example 1, except that Fe—Ni (8/2) was used as the catalyst.
Photomicrographs of the resulting fibrous nanocarbon are shown in FIGS. 48(a) and 48(b).
The carbon nano-fibrous rod and fibrous nanocarbon according to the present invention have a high degree of graphitization and a large surface area. Thus, they are preferred for use as highly functional materials (resin, metal, ceramic and carbon reinforcements, heat dissipators, catalyst carriers, gas adsorbents, and bio-composites). They can show high potential, particularly, for use in the occlusion, adsorption and desorption of hydrogen, the occlusion, adsorption and desorption of lithium, catalytic action, and adsorption of nitrogen oxides.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP03/14892 | 11/21/2003 | WO | 5/31/2005 |
