Preparation of carbon encapsulated cobalt nanoparticles by catalytic ethane decomposition

Decomposition of ethane over cobalt nanoparticles was studied in isothermal conditions in the temperature range 375-500 °C. The obtained products were examined using XRD and HR-TEM techniques. Carbon deposit was reduced by a flow of hydrogen in the temperature range 500-575 °C. The kinetics of hydrocarbon decomposition and carbon deposit hydrogenation were investigated using the thermogravimetry method. The values of apparent activation energies of these processes have been determined.