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. Herein, carbon growth on Ni catalyst is tracked via in situ microscopy methods. Evidence derived from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy imaging, diffraction, and energy loss spectroscopy unambiguously identifies Ni₃ C as the active phase, as opposed to metallic Ni nickel or surface carbides as traditionally believed. Specifically, Ni₃ C particle grows carbon nanofibers (CNF) layer-by-layer through synchronized oscillation of tip stretch and atomic step fluctuations. There is an anisotropic stress distribution in Ni₃ C that provides the lifting force during nanofiber growth. Density functional theory computations show that it is thermodynamically favorable for Ni₃ C to decompose into Ni and surface-adsorbed carbon. Carbonaceous deposits aggregate asymmetrically round the particle because partial surface is exposed to the hydrocarbon environment whereas the bottom side is shielded by the support. This induces a carbon concentration gradient within the particle, which drives C migration through Ni₃ C phase before it exits as CNF growth.