Advancing the production and application of carbon nanotubes (CNT) from Vietnam’s high-CO2 natural gas sources
Abstract
Nanocarbon is considered the fourth-generation materials, gradually replacing applications of third-generation silicon-based materials. With its wide range of applications across various sectors, the nanocarbon material market holds immense potential. In Vietnam alone, preliminary estimates indicate that the nanocarbon market could reach approximately 3,700 tons/year by 2030. Natural gas with high CO2 content represents a highly promising feedstock for synthesizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This is a high-value-added material with wide-ranging applications across multiple fields and is highly suitable for future development by the Vietnam National Industry-Energy Group.
The Petrovietnam/Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI) has successfully developed an advanced technology to synthesize CNTs from high-CO2-content gas sources using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method based on the application of thin-film metal catalyst systems. The obtained CNT products, without requiring purification, achieve a purity level of 99.8%. In Vietnam, the Ca Voi Xanh gas field is assessed as a major reserve with compositions lying at a favorable threshold in terms of constituent components and ratios for CNT synthesis.
Potential and suitable applications of CNT materials in Vietnam include their use as additives to create advanced products with superior properties in coatings, lubricants, fertilizers, and plastics. In parallel with completing CNT production technology, research and development of CNT-based applications are necessary and should be initiated soon. Informed by a preliminary analysis of market trends, supply and demand, available resources, and the research and development capabilities of Petrovietnam/VPI, a roadmap for research and development of two product groups is proposed: (i) Nanocarbon materials as raw inputs for other industries; and (ii) Specialized products incorporating nanocarbon materials.
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