Gas chromatographic analysis of methane pyrolysis products during laser evaporation of CrO$_x$/Al$_2$O$_3$ nanoparticles in a methane-argon environment

This paper presents the results of a chromatographic analysis of gaseous products formed during the laser synthesis of catalytic Cr/Al$_2$O$_3$ nanoparticles in a methane-argon environment. The main difficulties of such studies are noted. Methods for solving this problem and ways to optimize the methane pyrolysis accompanying the laser synthesis of nanoparticles are proposed. The fundamental possibility of simultaneous synthesis of catalytic nanoparticles and their use for methane pyrolysis is demonstrated. The main products of pyrolysis in this process are hydrogen and amorphous carbon. The maximum hydrogen yield is 4% (vol.). It is shown how the process can be optimized to increase the yield of hydrogen and expand the range of reaction products for unsaturated hydrocarbons.