Synthesis of carbon-supported metal catalysts by HTC and electroplating processes from cattail flower

Abstract

Carbon-supported metal (nickel) catalysts has been synthesized from Cattail flower (CF) by two stage processes: hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and electroplating technique. In the first stage, CF has been transformed in the HTC process with optimized condition at 180°C for 8h. Then the samples have been compressed into the 5 mm-pellet and calcined under nitrogen atmosphere at 900°C for 2 h to active-surface carbon which produced high surface area and good conductivity. In the second stage, the products obtained from HTC were subjected to produce the carbon-supported metal catalysts. Due to the good electrical conductivity of the carbon from HTC process, the metal can be effectively deposited on the carbon surface. Various parameters such as temperature of solution (40-60°C) and voltage (3.0-5.0V) have been studied. The results indicated that the electroplating process of solution temperature 50°C under applied voltages at 4.0V were the optimal conditions produced to mostly metallic phase.