Effect of resistive heating conditions of a fechral wire catalyst on the amount and morphology of carbon deposits on its surface during the pyrolysis of methane and its mixture with helium

The influence of the electric current type (direct, alternating) used for resistive heating of fechral wire catalyst, as well as the effect of applying an external electromagnetic field on the amount and morphology of carbon deposits formed on the surface of this catalyst during the decomposition of methane and its mixture with helium (70 vol. % CH4 and 30 vol. % He), is studied. It was found that the carbon yield is approximately twice as high when the catalyst is heated by alternating current compared to direct. Dilution of methane leads to a proportional decrease in carbon mass. In all cases, the resulting carbon deposits have a similar morphology and are columns of varying thickness and diameter. The application of an external electromagnetic field leads to fundamental changes. There is not only an increase in the yield, but also a change in the morphology of carbon deposits and the formation of branched fibers is observed. In the presence of inert gas, more branched structures formed from extremely thin carbon fibers can be obtained.