Insight into the mechanism of nanodiamond catalysed decomposition of methane molecules

Abstract

Nanodiamond can catalyze the decomposition of methane, and its initial rate is linearly dependent on the number of -CH=CH- defective sites. Thermal treatment improves the ordering of surface atoms, resulting in an inferior activity but a more stable performance over a long period of time, and above 1300 °C few-layered graphene can be found.