Rice Husk Valorization into NiO@SiO2/Carbon Nanocomposites for Low-Temperature CO Oxidation: Effect of Surface Area and Ni3+ Cations

Abstract

NiO was synthesized in the presence of a 3D porous nanostructured SiO2/carbon composite derived from rice husk via a hydrothermal method to produce NiO@SiO2/C nanostructures with good microstructural and morphological properties and high catalytic activity. Textural properties and physicochemical characteristics of the materials could be modified by the addition of varying amounts of hydrocarbonized rice husk. The as-prepared NiO@SiO2/C catalysts obtained in the presence of hydrocarbonized rice husk exhibited optimum CO oxidation; i.e., T50 (50% conversion) is at 80 °C (for NiO at 205 °C).