Synthesis of Nickel Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Using a Filter Paper as Biomorphic Pattern for Application in Catalysis

Abstract

Nickel catalysts supported over an amorphous carbon were obtained by a one-step synthesis method based on the mineralization of cellulosic paper impregnated with a salt of nickel. The effect of the mineralization temperature on material characteristics was studied. The characterization of samples revealed the formation of nickel nanoparticles well dispersed on the carbonaceous matrix with an average diameter near to 5 nm. The samples showed high surface areas and they retained the original fibrous paper morphology.

Keywords:
Ni nanoparticles; Ni-C catalysts; biomorphic catalysts

1 Introduction

In the recent years, the scientific community has focused on the development of materials in nanometric scale due to their unique properties and their potential application. Nickel nanoparticles have found application in the field of electronics, magnetism, energy, technology and biomedicine¹.

Natural materials such as wood, cotton, bamboo, diatom, protein, agaroses, sponges, DNA, etc. have been employed as templates to synthesize biomorphic materials, in which the morphologies of the templates and hierarchical pore structure from millimeter to nanometer are well replicated^2-7. This technology offers the possibility to use a wide variety of materials to produce microcellular ceramic, composites and nanocomposites⁸.The biomorphic templates have been applied to the synthesis of catalysts for several applications such as combustion of methane⁹, CO oxidation¹⁰ and hydrogen production¹¹. Biomorphic templating has been applied in the synthesis of catalysts managed to produce materials that retain high surface areas after an extended treatment at elevated temperatures¹².

Nickel is an attractive catalytic active phase for the reforming of hydrocarbons and biomass for hydrogen production^13-17 and also for hydrogenation in a liquid phase¹⁸ because of its optimal cost/activity rate compared with the noble metals. The main disadvantage is the tendency to deactivation by carbon deposition. Nickel particle size and its interaction with catalytic supports are key parameters for the control of the activity and carbon deposition rate.

Different types of carbon have been used as catalytic support for their high stability, simplicity for metal recovery and versatility to adjust superficial properties^19,20. Carbon as support is also attractive for CNF production^21,22. However, reaching a desired metal loading and a high dispersion level require superficial treatments on the C-support to ensure anchoring points for the metal ions adsorption¹⁹. Wang & Lu²³ have shown on activated carbon supported Ni catalysts that the amount of Ni adsorbed strongly depends on the severity of the acid pre-treatment given to the support.

In this work, a very simple and fast method to prepare Ni nanoparticles supported on carbon is described. The carbon was obtained from a filter paper which acts as: i) a porous medium able to absorb nickel solution and keep spaced Ni ions, ii) a carbon source for mineralization and iii) a biomorphic template. The influence of mineralization temperature on the some physico-chemical properties was studied. BET analysis, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Thermogravimetry were employed to characterize the samples.

2 Experimental

2.1 Sample preparation

The raw material used as biomorphic template was discs of filter paper (589², white ribbon, 125mm diameter, SCHLEICHER & SCHUELL CO.). Discs without any treatment were impregnated for 30 seconds in an aqueous solution of Ni(NO₃)₂.6H₂O (Sigma Aldrich) with a suitable concentration (C_Ni) to reach a final loading of 7 wt.% Ni. Nickel concentration in the impregnation solution was calculated taking into account the paper liquid retention capacity (LRC) and the paper carbon yield (CY) at each mineralization temperature.

Wet hanged up paper discs were dried in static air at 80 °C for 8 hours. Then they were mineralized under a flow of 5%H₂/N₂ (300 mL min⁻¹) in a tubular fixed bed reactor, from room temperature to T (T= 500, 600 or 700 °C) at a heating rate of 42 °C min⁻¹ following by an isothermal period at T for 30 min. The samples were denominated Ni-C500, Ni-C600 and Ni-C700, respectively. Analogously, free-nickel samples obtained from mineralization of paper without any treatment were also prepared. These materials were denominated C500, C600 and C700.

The LRC value, 1.785 g_H2O g_paper^–1, was determined by weight difference between wet paper and dry paper. The CY (Table 1) was calculated using the expression

$$CY(T)=\frac{w_{carbon}}{w_{paper}}$$ (1)

where w_paper is the weight in grams of filter paper loaded at the reactor and w_carbon the remaining weight in grams after carbonization at a given temperature T.

Table 1
Some properties of Ni-C samples.

Sample	wt.% Ni (a)	CY ${\text{g}}_{\text{carbon}}{\text{g}}_{\text{paper}}^{-1}$	CNi gNi mL–1	SBET m2 g–1	Pore diameter A(b)	d${Ni}_{XRD}^{}$ nm (c)	ID/IG
C500	--	0.165	--	309	--	--	--
C600	--	0.122	--	445	--	--	--
C700	--	0.135	--	388	--	--	--
Ni-C500	7.2	---	3.56×10–2	396	39.8	5.3	0.66
Ni-C600	6.5	---	2.63×10–2	436	37.1	4.7	1.00
Ni-C700	6.2	---	2.91×10–2	391	46.3	8.7	0.81

• ^(a) from TGA data.
• ^(b) BJH Desorption average pore width (4V/A).
• ^(c) from XRD using Scherrer equation at 2θ= 44.35°.

2.2 Characterization

All samples were characterized using different physicochemical methods.

2.2.1 BET surface area

BET surface areas were measured by using a Micromeritics Gemini V analyzer by adsorption of nitrogen at –196 °C on 50 mg of sample previously degassed at 300 °C for 16 h under flowing N₂.

2.2.2 X-Ray diffraction

Diffraction patterns (XRD) were obtained with a RIGAKU diffractometer operated at 30 kV and 20 mA by using Ni-filtered Cu Ka radiation (λ = 0.15418 nm) at a rate of 3° min^–1 from 2θ = 20 to 80°. The identification of crystalline phases was made by matching with the JCPDS files. Ni particle size was estimated by the Scherrer equation using the peak centered at 2θ= 44.35°.

2.2.3 Thermal gravimetry

The analyses were recorded using a DTG-50 Shimadzu equipment. The samples, ca. 8 mg, were placed in a Pt cell and heated from room temperature to 800 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C min^–1 with a gas feed (air) of 50 mL min^–1. The Ni content, %Ni, was evaluated as:

$$\%Ni=\frac{w_{nickel}}{w_{carbon}+w_{nickel}}\times 100$$ (2)

Where w_nickel is the nickel weight calculated from the remaining weight after the TG analysis assuming all the residue is NiO; and w_carbon is the carbon weight calculated from the weight loss measured by TGA.

2.2.4 Raman spectroscopy

The Raman spectra were recorded using a Lab Ram spectrometer (Jobin–Yvon) coupled to an Olympus confocal microscope (1009 objective lens were used for simultaneous illumination and collection) and equipped with a CCD with the detector cooled to about –70 °C using the Peltier effect. The excitation wavelength was in all the cases 532 nm (Spectra Physics argon-ion laser). The laser power was set at 30 mW. Integration times ranged from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the sample.

2.2.5 Transmission electron microscopy

TEM micrographs images were recorded in a FEI Tecnai T20 equipment operated at 200 kV so the irradiation damages were minimized. Specimens were prepared by standard techniques. TEM images allows to calculate the particle diameter ${\overline{d}}_p$ according to the suitable expression²⁴

$${\overline{d}}_p=\frac{{\displaystyle \sum n_i{d}_i^3}}{{\displaystyle \sum n_i{d}_i^2}}$$ (3)

2.2.6 Scanning electron microscopy

Scanning electron micrographs were obtained in a LEO 1450 VP. This instrument is equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer, EDAX Genesis 2000 with Si(Li) detector which permits analytical electron microscopy measurements. The samples were sputter coated with gold.

3 Results and Discussion

In Figure 1, the TG derivative curves of samples are presented. In all the cases, the decomposition temperature increases with temperature of mineralization, suggesting the presence of more stable carbonaceous species at higher temperature, according to literature reports^25-27. The free-nickel samples C500 and C600, Figure 1a, show a slight gain of weight around 320 and 378 °C, respectively, which it is not observed in C700. This phenomenon could be associated at the oxidation of some organic compounds not completely eliminated in a reductive atmosphere at temperatures lower than 600 °C and it would be in agreement with the results of S_BET further discussed. The final weight was nearly zero, indicating a very low ash content in the filter paper. In the samples with Ni, Figure 1b, the oxidation temperatures were lower than to the free-Ni samples. It would be associated to the nickel catalytic effect that favors the combustion of organic compounds. It is known that some transition metals such as Ni, Ru, Rh, etc can catalyze the carbon gasification²⁸. All samples present a slight increase of weight around 350 °C associated to the oxidation of Ni⁰. The total weight loss for each sample allows to estimate the Ni loading, being: 7.2, 6.5 and 6.2 wt.% Ni for Ni-C500, Ni-C600 and Ni-C700, respectively, Table 1. These values were close to the theoretical value validating the methodology applied for the calculus of Ni content in the impregnation solution.

Figure 1
TG weight loss derivative of (a) free Ni samples: − C500, − C600, − C700; and (b) Ni-C samples: − Ni-C500, − Ni-C600, − Ni-C700.

The N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms (not shown) for all samples are type I according to the IUPAC classification with narrow type H4 hysteresis loops, similar to those other carbon materials. The specific surface areas, S_BET, are presented in Table 1. Although the mineralization temperature does not exhibit a strong effect on the specific surface, the S_BET value for the sample calcined at 600°C with and without Ni reached the higher value. The increasing temperature up 600°C promotes the emptying of the pores in the carbonaceous matrix producing an increase in the BET surface. However, temperatures of mineralization higher than 600 °C would promote a structural collapse of the carbonaceous matrix leading to the decrease in the BET surface.

The XRD of Ni-C samples are shown in Figure 2. The Ni containing samples revealed the presence of amorphous carbon and Ni⁰ (2θ = 44.5° and 51.8° JCPDS-4-0850) even after air exposition at room temperature. Nickel particle sizes (d_Ni) were estimated by Scherrer equation, Table 1. The Ni-C500 and Ni-C600 samples have a Ni particle size close to 5 nm while the sample obtained at 700 °C shows a slight higher value of 8.7 nm, probably due to a sintering phenomenon during calcination at a higher temperature.

Figure 2
XRD of (a) Ni-C500; (b) Ni-C600 and (c) Ni-C700 samples.

The nature and characteristics of the carbonaceous species were also studied by Raman spectroscopy. In Figure 3, the Raman spectra of samples are shown in the range of 1100-1800 cm^–1. In all the cases, two broad bands centered at 1579 cm^–1 (G band) and 1344 cm^–1 (D band) are observed. They are attributed to the stretching mode of carbon sp² bonds of the typical graphite and to the vibrations of carbon atoms with dangling bonds in disordered graphite planes, respectively. Besides, the band at 1609 cm^–1 known as D´ band is clearly observed when the mineralization temperature was 700°C. This band is usually associated with defects which break the translational symmetry of the graphene sheet. In general, it is assumed that when decreasing the D-to-G intensity ratio (I_D/I_G), the degree of graphitization increases²⁹. In Table 1, the I_D/I_G intensity ratios are presented. Ni-C600 sample shows the lowest graphitization degree which might be related to the observed high BET surface.

Figure 3
Raman spectra of (a) Ni-C500; (b) Ni-C600 and (c) Ni-C700 samples.

The external structure of the samples was examined by scanning electron microscopy, Figure 4. Samples containing 7 wt.% Ni (Figure 4a-c) exhibit similar structure to C700 free-Ni sample (Figure 4d). All the samples after the mineralization step preserve the biomorphic cellulose structure and hollow and non hollow microfibers with external diameter around 9-13 µm and internal diameter between 2-5 µm are detected, in agreement with the literature⁸.

Figure 4
SEM images of (a) Ni-C500; (b) Ni-C600, (c) Ni-C700 and (d) C700 samples.

TEM images of samples are presented in Figure 5. Nickel nanoparticles homogenously dispersed within the carbonaceous matrix are observed. The diameters close to 5 nm were determined on Ni-C500 and Ni-C600. In the sample Ni-C700, Figure 5c, d, a low amount of particles with a diameter higher at 5 nm (10-50 nm) can be seen, in agreement with XRD results. These particles as it was mentioned before could be formed by sintering at 700°C. Some of these particles have been encapsulated with many layers of graphene, Figure 5d, and they would not be available as catalytic active sites.

Figure 5
TEM micrographs of (a) Ni-C500; (b) Ni-C600; (c) and (d) Ni-C700 samples.

According to the results of the present work, the synthesis method used for preparation of Ni-C catalysts was very simple and fast, without previous treatments of the support. The synthesized samples retained the original fibrous paper morphology. The optimum mineralization temperature for obtaining a homogeneous Ni distribution with particle sizes of 5 nm and to prevent sintering seems to be 600°C.

4 Conclusions

A simple one step method to produce nickel nanoparticles over a carbon matrix has been developed. Cellulose filter papers as a carbon source were impregnated with a nickel aqueous solution as metal source. The impregnated filter papers were calcined in a reductive atmosphere at the temperature range of 500-700°C. Nickel nanoparticles highly dispersed over a biomorphic carbonaceous structure with diameter close to 5 nm were obtained. The optimum mineralization temperature for obtaining a homogeneous Ni distribution and to prevent sintering seems to be 600°C

This method of synthesis could be applied to other metals sources, either noble or non-noble, producing nanoparticled materials replacing currently multi-step preparation techniques. In addition, new materials could be developed being usefull in several fields like hydrogen storage, functionalized coatings, fuel cells electrodes, carbon nanotubes production and fine chemicals.

Acknowledgements

Financial supports are acknowledged to CONICET and Universidad Nacional de San Luis. The authors are grateful to Lic. Esther Fixman by the determination of N₂ adsorption- desorption isotherms. The funds from the ANPCyT to buy the Raman instrument are also grateful (PME 87-PAE 36985).

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  3 Nov 2015
• Date of issue
  Nov-Dec 2015

History

• Received
  04 Aug 2015
• Reviewed
  01 Oct 2015