Process for producing hydrogen gas and carbon nanotubes from catalytic decomposition of ethanol

A process for producing hydrogen gas and carbon nanotubes comprising:

• contacting gaseous ethanol with a Ni/La2O3 catalyst such that hydrogen gas and carbon nanotubes are produced concurrently with carbon monoxide,
• wherein the Ni/La2O3 catalyst is obtained by H2 reduction of a LaNiO3 perovskite catalyst precursor, the Ni particles in the Ni/La2O3 catalyst range in size from 5 to 30 nm, and the Ni/La2O3 catalyst has a specific area equal to or greater than 5 m2/g,
• wherein the process for producing hydrogen gas and carbon nanotubes is conducted at a temperature ranging from 300° C. to 900° C., and
• wherein the rate of production of hydrogen gas is equal to or greater than 10 L/h of H2 per gram of catalyst.