Cu−Ni−Al Spinel Oxide as an Efficient Durable Catalyst for Methanol Steam Reforming. Issue 24 (28th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Yajie; Qing, Shaojun; Hou, Xiaoning; Qin, Fajie; Wang, Xiang; Gao, Zhixian; Xiang, Hongwei
• Is Part Of: ChemCatChem. Volume 10:Issue 24(2018)
• Page Start: 5698
• Page End: 5706
• Publication Date: 2018-11-28
• Subjects: Cu−Ni−Al -- hydrogen production -- methanol steam reforming -- spinel -- sustained release catalysis; Catalysis -- Periodicals; 541.39505
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201801472
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1867-3880

Abstract

Abstract: Copper metal catalysts suffer from gradual loss of activity due to the agglomeration and sintering of active metals during the catalytic reaction processes. Herein, we show that enhanced catalytic durability for methanol steam reforming (MSR) can be achieved by using Ni modified Cu−Al spinel solid solution as catalysts without pre‐reduction treatment. In so doing, Cu atoms can be gradually released from spinel structure after the initiating of reaction by non‐spinel CuO entities. Incorporation of Ni in the spinel structure reveals two positive effects: slowing down the Cu releasing rate and producing even smaller Cu nanoparticles as compared to that of Cu−Al spinel. Since Ni 2+ ions in spinel framework cannot be reduced during the catalytic process, we suggest that the remaining defective Cu a Ni b □ c Al d O4 spinel structure plays a crucial role in stabilizing the formed Cu nanoparticles. The synthesized sample with 0.05 mol Ni per mol Cu shows the best catalytic performance as demonstrated by pretty stable activity during the long‐term catalytic testing up to 2000 h. The findings show great commercial application potentials for the production of H2 from MSR. Abstract : Just keep on, keepin′ on : Small amounts of Ni modified Cu−Al spinel solid solution catalyst presents enhanced catalytic performance in methanol steam reforming. The defect spinel containing a few Ni 2+ and Cu 2+ ions can well stabilize Cu nanoparticles.