Catalytic Performance of Nickel Nanowires Immobilized in Silica Aerogels for the CO2 Hydration Reaction

In this work, wavy nickel nanowires (NiNWs) were immobilized on mesoporous silica (SiO2) aerogels by the sol-gel method. We measured the catalytic activity of pure NiNWs and NiNW-SiO2 aerogel composites toward the CO2 hydration reaction (CHR) when they are in water. Dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) analysis was performed at levels of 50% CO2 and 50% H2O vapor for SiO2 aerogels, immobilized nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) on silica aerogel and NiNW-SiO2 aerogel composites, in order to determine catalytic activity for CHR in the gaseous phase. The results from DVS analysis (gaseous phase) and CHR (aqueous phase) showed that NiNW-SiO2 aerogel composites are good heterogeneous catalysts for CHR in both gaseous and aqueous phases but they are less active than NiNP-SiO2 aerogel composites.