Carbon nanofibers, CNFs, due to their superior strength, conductivity, flexibility, and durability have great potential as a material resource but still have limited use due to the cost intensive complexities of their synthesis. Herein, we report the high-yield and scalable electrolytic conversion of atmospheric CO₂ dissolved in molten carbonates into CNFs. It is demonstrated that the conversion of CO₂ → CCNF + O₂ can be driven by efficient solar, as well as conventional, energy at inexpensive steel or nickel electrodes. The structure is tuned by controlling the electrolysis conditions, such as the addition of trace transition metals to act as CNF nucleation sites, the addition of zinc as an initiator and the control of current density. A less expensive source of CNFs will facilitate its adoption as a societal resource, and using carbon dioxide as a reactant to generate a value added product such as CNFs provides impetus to consume this greenhouse gas to mitigate climate change.

Nano Lett., 2015, 15 (9), pp 6142–6148
DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b02427
Publication Date (Web): August 3, 2015

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b02427

http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA5NDQ2NzQyMg==&mid=225476716&idx=5&sn=81ce2effaeb6a0d1f07be194ae94fa77&scene=0#rd