Pyrolysis Properties of Cellulose by ITO Nanowires Coated with Ru Nanoparticles

Indium tin (InSn) alloy nanowires (NWs) were prepared using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film as template by vacuum mechanical injection method. Ru particles were then coated on the surface of InSn NWs by the "in situ discharge reduction" method. Subsequently, the RuO2/ITO NWs was obtained by heat treatment for the composite material. Finally, RuO2/ITO NWs were reduced in H-2 atmosphere to obtain Ru/ITO NWs. The results indicate that the diameter of InSn NWs is about 40 nm and Ru nanoparticles of 2-5 nm are uniformly coated on the surface of ITO NWs. In addition, the catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose by Ru/ITO NWs is tested and the main products are 1,6-anhydropyranose, glycolaldehyde, and hydroxyacetone. Compared the catalysate of ITO NWs without catalysts, Ru/ITO NWs catalyst reduces the production of 1,6-anhydropyranose, which indicates that Ru nanoparticles exacerbate the fracture of oxygen bridges during pyrolysis, accelerate the generation of glycolaldehyde and hydroxyacetone, and thus improve the pyrolysis efficiency. At the same time, the pyrolysis of nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether with ether bonds was also carried out, and the result shows that Ru/ITO NWs plays a significant role in the fracture of ether bonds, which reduce the formation of intermediate cellulose and realizes the rapid pyrolysis of cellulose.