Tracing the Active Phase and Dynamics for Carbon Nanofiber Growth on Nickel Catalyst Using Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Benefitting from outstanding ability of CC reforming and hydrogen activation, nickel is widely applied for heterogeneous catalysis or producing high-quality carbon structures. This high activity simultaneously induces uncontrollable carbon formation, known as coking. However, the activity origin for growing carbon species remains in debate between the on metallic facets induction and nickel carbide segregation.