Dry reforming of methane over single-atom Rh/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by exsolution. Issue 7 (15th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mekkering, Martijn J.; Biemolt, Jasper; de Graaf, Jeen; Lin, Yi-An; van Leest, Nicolaas P.; Troglia, Alessandro; Bliem, Roland; de Bruin, Bas; Rothenberg, Gadi; Yan, Ning
• Is Part Of: Catalysis science & technology. Volume 13:Issue 7(2023)
• Page Start: 2255
• Page End: 2260
• Publication Date: 2023-03-15
• Subjects: Catalysis -- Periodicals; 541.395
• DOI: 10.1039/d2cy02126a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-4753

Abstract

Abstract : Single-atom catalysts often show exceptionally high performance per metal loading. Abstract : Single-atom catalysts often show exceptionally high performance per metal loading. However, the isolated atom sites tend to agglomerate during preparation and/or high-temperature reaction. Here we show that in the case of Rh/Al2 O3 this deactivation can be prevented by dissolution/exsolution of metal atoms into/from the support. We design and synthesise a series of single-atom catalysts, characterise them and study the impact of exsolution in the dry reforming of methane at 700–900 °C. The catalysts' performance increases with increasing reaction time, as the rhodium atoms migrate from the subsurface to the surface. Although the oxidation state of rhodium changes from Rh(iii ) to Rh(ii ) or Rh(0) during catalysis, atom migration is the main factor affecting catalyst performance. The implications of these results for preparing real-life catalysts are discussed.