Synthesis and Characterization of SiC Nanocomposite Catalyst Supports with Self-Formed Nano-whiskers

Abstract

Silicon carbide and alumina nanomaterials have been extensively studied for their application to heterogeneous catalyst supports required to high temperature operation because of their advantages which show a high resistance towards oxidation, a high mechanical strength, a high thermal conductivity, a low specific weight, and low chemical reactivity. Additionally, the remarkable improvement of silicon carbide particles with alumina was achieved in high reliability and temperature deformation resistance of alumina had been reported. Advanced techniques have recently been proposed to produce heterogeneous nanomaterials using a supercritical fluid technology, which leads to a novel approach for the synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles with high surface area. In our study, nickel-based catalysts supported by silicon carbide-alumina nanowire beads were prepared via modified sol-gel process mediated by supercritical carbon dioxide and subsequent heat-treatment for application of heterogeneous catalytic reaction, particularly, in natural gas to liquid (GTL) process. Highly porous silicon carbide-alumina beads with self-formed nanowires were prepared and their nanostuctural and morphological evolutions were systematically investigated.