A Gas Control by Metal Nanoclusters-Supported Porous Carbon Nanofibers

In this work, we prepared porous graphite nanofibers (PCNFs) from herringbone-type graphite nanofibers, and nano-sized transition metals such as copper metal, were loaded on the PCNFs by a metal electroplating in order to prepare novel catalysts for the control of toxic gases, such as hydrogen chloride. From experimental results, PCNFs had around 2000 m2/g of a specific surface area, and it was decreased slightly after metal loading. In case of metal content, we could control them from less 3 to over 30 wt% by means of the plating time and current density applied. After the metal loading, all samples having transition metal nanoclusters showed higher efficiency of HCl removal than that of samples without metals. However we also found that some samples having excessive metal content showed a decrease in the efficiency of HCl removal. This result meant that one of key technologies was both to find optimal metal content and to remain high specific surface area of substrates.