Synthesis of carbon foam covered with carbon nanofibers as catalyst support for gas phase catalytic reactions

Mesophase pitch based carbon foam (MPCF) covered with a layer of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) was prepared as catalyst support for gas phase catalytic reactions. Owing to the CNF layer, the specific surface area of MPCF increases from 40 to 198m2/g. This kind of catalyst support plays an important role in the enhancement of mass/heat transfer due to the large external surface area, high porosity and high thermal conductivity. When selective catalytic NO reduction was taken as a model reaction, more than 90% NO conversion could be achieved in a wide temperature range of 180–220°C over MnOx–CeO2/MPCF–CNF catalyst.