Shashank Shekhar

Title : Iron-based catalyst for production of hydrogen and carbon nanotubes through the catalytic decomposition of methane.

Abstract:

The promising technique of catalytic decomposition of methane (CDM) aims to produce hydrogen and valuable byproduct like CNTs without releasing greenhouse gas emissions. However, a significant challenge in making this process commercially viable is the development of an appropriate catalyst that can maintain long-term stability, exhibit strong catalytic activity and be cost-effective. Nickel is the best catalyst for this process, but due to the rapid decomposition of nickel it is not suitable for the long run. Since iron-based catalysts performance is comparable with Ni catalysts because, Fe catalysts can survive temperatures of 700 °C and above, it is possible to achieve larger methane conversions with them than with Ni catalysts, leading to a favorable shift in the equilibrium. Using incipient technique, monometallic and bimetallic catalysts were made, containing 30 wt% metal of Fe, 25Fe:5Ni. Before each reaction, the catalyst was reduced in-situ using hydrogen and nitrogen gas (1:1 by volume) at a total flow of 40 mL/min at NTP. The experimental findings of methane conversion 65%. The reaction was conducted at 800°C and an atmospheric pressure while the feed was kept at 4,000 mL h-1 g -1 cat. space velocity. The addition of nickel (Ni) resulted in a slight increase in the conversion rate. However, the significant finding from the Raman spectroscopic is the quality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) produced. It is evident that increasing the nickel content enhances the quality of CNTs, as the IG/ID ratio is improved.

Audience Take Away

• Method to produce hydrogen through process that do not result in the release of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases into the environment with CNTs as byproducts.
• The transition of energy sources from traditional to emerging technologies which offers novel avenue in energy sector.
• This technology opens new research areas for academia, including further catalyst screening and tuning the properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), among other opportunities.
• his technology offers a tangible solution to meet the world's energy demands while producing no greenhouse gases

Biography:

I am a chemical engineer currently pursuing my Ph.D. at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) New Delhi, with a focus on catalysis for hydrogen production. My research leverages cutting-edge methodologies, including Density Functional Theory (DFT), Ab initio Molecular Dynamic (AIMD), Machine Learning, and Deep Learning, to advance our understanding of catalytic processes and develop novel catalysts for sustainable hydrogen generation.
Through my Ph.D. research, I am investigating the fundamental mechanisms of catalytic reactions involved in hydrogen production, employing state-of-the-art computational techniques to elucidate reaction pathways and optimize catalyst performance.