Synthesis and characterization of SiC nanocomposite catalyst supports with self-formed nanowires.

Nickel-loaded SiC-alumina structural catalysts containing nanowires were facilely fabricated via modified sol-gel process mediated by supercritical carbon dioxide, followed by thermal-treatment. The nanowires were formed by metal-catalyzed growth on the outer and inner parts of SiC-alumina nanocomposite beads containing more than 3 wt.% of the metal seed at a moderate temperature of 1,100 degrees C under nitrogen gas flow. Highly dispersed Ni active catalysts were deposited on the surface of the nanowires formed outer and inner parts of the bead catalyst supports through the catalyst pretreatment process in the supercritical carbon dioxide. As a result, a new Ni/SiC heterogeneous catalyst with an enhanced surface area was successfully prepared using the SiC-alumina catalyst supports with a nanowire structure.