In
this work is presented a study of the shelf life of an iron-impregnated
MgO (Fe/MgO) sample and an explanation of the effect of its aging
on morphology and electroactivity of nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures
prepared by using this catalyst at different ages. Characterizations
of Fe/MgO by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), temperature-programmed
desorption mass spectroscopy (TPD-MS), high-resolution X-ray powder
diffraction (HR-XRPD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
have been performed at different aging times. The catalyst is formed
by crystalline MgO, Mg(OH)2, and FeO phases. During aging,
CO2 adsorption induces the formation of amorphous carbonate,
resulting in a decrease of specific surface area, a redistribution
of porosity, a reduction of the iron percentage at the surface, and
an increase of iron oxide particle size. Different surface and bulk
properties are used to explain different morphologies and electroactivities
of the nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes synthesized at different catalyst
aging times. The importance of a careful characterization of the catalyst
as a function of shelf life, to optimize the synthesis and the morphology
of the nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes, is pointed out.
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