Synthesis of carbon nanotube using ferrocene as carbon source and catalyst in a vertical structured catalyst reactor

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus UI-Depok, Jawa Barat 16424, Indonesia
² Sustainable Energy Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus UI-Depok, Jawa Barat 16424, Indonesia

^* Coresponding author: wulan@che.ui.ac.id

Abstract

Development of nano-carbon technology in the world has recently occurred due to its excellent electric, thermal, and mechanical properties and it diverse of applications such as electronics, biology, and material. Fixed bed reactor run into blocked due to carbon deposition on the catalyst that cause pressure drop enhancement. Whereas, application of fluidized bed reactor as an alternative of prior reactor have some trouble for complicated of feed flow control that can cause change of catalyst particle size during reaction since agglomeration and adhesion of nanoparticles transpire. Synthesis of carbon nanotube material used a vertical structured catalyst gauze reactor with double furnace system to maintain the catalyst and carbon source in the form of gas phase. This will lead growth of CNT on the surface of the substrate proved by SEM and XRD characterization. Furnace 1 used to ferrocene vaporizer at 400°C and furnace 2 provide substrate placement for CNT growth at 850°C. CNTs characterization confirmed yield and CNT diameter 29.33% and 11.38 nm respectively. Characterization of SEM show that CNT grows on stainless steel type 316 substrate preferable with oxidative heat treatment. Nevertheless, CNTs product still contain many of impurities such as Fe₃O₄, Fe₂O₃, Fe₃C, hexagonal graphite, and amorphous carbon.