ABSTRACT CTS-9634266 R. Terry Baker Graphitic carbon nanofibers will be utilized as support for mettallic NI or Pt catalysts. The fibers will be synthesized with preferential orientation of graphite platelets, or modified electrochemically after synthesis. The metal particles, synthesized by impregnation, calcination and reduction, have been shown to have unique activity and selectivity for the hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene. This project will study in detail the effect of fiber surface structure on particle morphology and corresponding catalytic characteristics under gas and liquid hydrogenation conditions.
