Synthesis of highly loaded highly dispersed nickel on carbon nanofibers by homogeneous deposition-precipitation

Highly loaded ( 45 wt%) Ni on graphitic carbon nanofiber ( diameter 50 nm) catalysts were prepared by means of homogeneous deposition - precipitation (HDP) from an aqueous solution. The obtained Ni metal particles were small ( 9 nm). This shows clearly that HDP can be used for the preparation of catalysts based on inert supports, like carbon nanofibers, which cannot form surface co-precipitates between the catalyst support and the metal precursor. The latter is known to be a crucial step in the preparation of metal-on-oxidic support catalysts. The oxygen-containing groups on the surface of the carbon nanofiber act as nucleation and anchoring sites in the deposition of highly dispersed Ni.