Impact of ferrocene on the nanostructure and functional groups of soot in a propane/oxygen diffusion flame. Issue 9 (17th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Chao; Li, Wenzhi; Lin, Qizhao; Zheng, Xusheng; Pan, Haibin; Huang, Qifu
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 7:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 5427
• Page End: 5436
• Publication Date: 2017-01-17
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra26096a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Ferrocene influences soot oxidation activity by changing its nanostructure and functional groups on the surface. Reactions between oxygen and ferrocene reduce the oxygen-containing functional groups on the soot. Abstract : This study presents the effect of ferrocene ((C5 H5 )2 Fe) on the soot oxidation activity by influencing the nanostructure and molecular structure of soot. Soot particles were obtained at different heights from propane/oxygen flames without and with ferrocene added to the fuel, respectively. The fringe properties of soot were compared using the skeleton images extracted from the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images of soot particles. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy was used to characterize the carbon chemistry of soot particles. It was found that ferrocene reduced the degree of graphitization of soot by changing its fringe length, tortuosity, and separation distance, and these effects were much more obvious near the flame terminus. These changes may be related to ferrocene dropping the flame temperature there. Fe from (C5 H5 )2 Fe reacting with OH and O radicals decreased the oxygen-containing functional groups of soot and affected its aromatic structure after the addition of (C5 H5 )2 Fe to the flame. The inner cores of soot particles were also much bigger due to partial oxidation. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that ferrocene promoted the soot oxidation at low temperatures.