Thermocatalytic Decomposition of Methane on Carbon Materials and Its Use in Hydrogen Energy Technologies

It is important today to find ways for the synthesis of hydrogen such as to avoid emissions of carbon oxides into the atmosphere and ensure the use of so-called low-carbon energy. Producing hydrogen through the thermocatalytic methane decomposition (CMD) on carbon catalysts yields not only a valuable, environmentally friendly fuel in the form of hydrogen, but also a wide range of carbon materials that can be used in a number of industries. The use of carbon catalysts is essential for the economic efficiency of methane decomposition. This paper describes the CMD fundamentals and summarizes results from studying the catalytic activity in this process for carbon materials (activated carbon, carbon black, nanotubes, nanofibers) that differ in structure and physical and chemical properties. The main problems and prospects of using this technology are identified.