Variation in Catalytic Activity of Carbon Black during Methane Decomposition: Active Site Estimations from Surface Structural Characteristics.

The variation in the catalytic activity of carbon black (CB) during methane decomposition was investigated by considering the number of active sites of CB. We demonstrated that the activity variation could be well estimated by assuming the edge length of graphitic sheets evolving from the CB surface. The results suggested that the activity variation originated from surface structural changes due to carbon deposition. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]