Coproduction of hydrogen and carbon filaments from methane decomposition over Fe/La₂O₃ catalysts

Clean hydrogen production from catalytic methane decomposition has attracted the attention of many researchers as an alternative fuel source. In the present work, the catalytic decomposition of methane into hydrogen and carbon filaments on La₂O₃ doped Fe catalyst was investigated using 25% iron loading. The effect of reaction temperatures (500-750°C) over 25% Fe/La₂O₃ catalyst was studied. The catalysts before and after reaction were characterized by BET, XRD, H₂-TPR, TGA, TPO, SEM and TEM. Stability studies of 25% Fe/ La₂O₃ at 750°C for 360 min for one cycle and 5 regeneration cycles were carried out. The 25% Fe/ La₂O₃ catalyst showed high stability for the six cycles with no reduction in activity. Hence, iron supported over La₂O₃ catalyst is an efficient catalyst for hydrogen production from catalytic methane decomposition. SEM and TEM images exhibited formation of carbon filaments with various diameters and lengths.