Understanding the effect of Sm2O3 and CeO2 promoters on the structure and activity of Rh/Al2O3 catalysts in methane steam reforming

Mullite-like SmMn2O5-Derived Composite Oxide-Supported Ni-Based Catalysts for Hydrogen Production by Auto-Thermal Reforming of Acetic Acid

The x%Ni/Sm2O3-MnO (x = 0, 10, 15, 20) catalysts derived from SmMn2O5 mullite were prepared by solution combustion and impregnation method; auto-thermal reforming (ATR) of acetic acid (HAc) for hydrogen production was used to explore the metal-support effect induced by Ni loadings on the catalytic reforming activity and product distribution. The 15%Ni/Sm2O3-MnO catalyst exhibited optimal catalytic performance, which can be due to the appropriate Ni loading inducing a strong metal-support interaction to form a stable Ni/Sm2O3-MnO active center, while side reactions, such as methanation and ketonization, were well suppressed. According to characterizations, Sm2O3-MnO mixed oxides derived from SmMn2O5 mullite were formed with oxygen vacancies; nevertheless, loading of Ni metal further promoted the formation of oxygen vacancies, thus enhancing adsorption and activation of oxygen-containing intermediate species and resulting in higher reactivity with HAc conversion near 100% and hydrogen yield at 2.62 mol-H2/mol-HAc.

Structural Changes of Ni and Ni-Pt Methane Steam Reforming Catalysts During Activation, Reaction, and Deactivation Under Dynamic Reaction Conditions

Ni-based catalysts are the most widely used materials to produce H2 in large-scale methane steam reformers under stationary conditions. For domestic applications such as fuel cells, H2 production involves the exposure of the catalysts to more dynamic conditions due to the daily startup and shutdown operation mode, making Ni-based catalysts susceptible to oxidation and deactivation. In this context, we report a systematic investigation of the structural changes occurring for monometallic Ni/MgAlOx and bimetallic NiPt/MgAlOx catalysts during methane steam reforming under transient conditions, comprising catalyst activation, operation, and deactivation processes. Besides extensive catalytic tests, the samples prepared by incipient wetness impregnation were characterized by complementary methods, including N2-physisorption, X-ray diffraction, H2-temperature-programmed reduction, and electron microscopy. Next, the structure of the Ni and Pt species was monitored under reaction conditions using time and spatially resolved in situ/operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The results obtained show that before catalyst activation by H2-reduction, nickel diffuses into the support lattice and forms mixed oxides with magnesium. In the activated catalysts, Ni is present in the metallic state or alloyed with Pt. A clear beneficial effect of the noble metal addition was identified on both the activity and stability of the bimetallic NiPt/MgAlOx catalyst. In contrast, the pronounced oxidation and reincorporation of Ni into the support lattice were observed for the monometallic sample, and these catalyst deactivation effects are hindered in the bimetallic Ni-Pt catalyst. Overall, the outcome of our study not only helps in understanding the catalyst activation/deactivation processes at an atomic level but also provides the basis for the rational development of improved methane steam reforming catalysts.

Engineering the Quaternary Hydrotalcite-Derived Ce-Promoted Ni-Based Catalysts for Enhanced Low-Temperature CO2 Hydrogenation into Methane

Ce-promoted NiMgAl mixed-oxide (NiCex-C, x = 0, 1, 5, 10) catalysts were prepared from the quaternary hydrotalcite precursors for CO₂ hydrogenation to methane. By engineering the Ce contents, NiCe5-C showed its prior catalytic performance in low-temperature CO₂ hydrogenation, being about three times higher than that of the Ce-free NiCe0-C catalyst (turnover frequency of NiCe5-C and NiCe0-C: 11.9 h^-1 vs. 3.9 h^-1 @ 225 °C). With extensive characterization, it was found that Ce dopants promoted the reduction of NiO by adjusting the interaction between Ni and Mg(Ce)AlOx support. The highest ratio of surface Ni⁰/(Ni²⁺ + Ni⁰) was obtained over NiCe5-C. Meanwhile, the surface basicity was tailored with Ce dopants. The strongest medium-strength basicity and highest capacity of CO₂ adsorption was achieved on NiCe5-C with 5 wt.% Ce content. The TOF tests indicated a good correlation with medium-strength basicity over the NiCex-C samples. The results showed that the high medium-strength and Ce-promoted surface Ni⁰ species endows the enhanced low-temperature catalytic performance in CO₂ hydrogenation to methane.

Metal–support interaction-modulated catalytic activity of Ru nanoparticles on Sm2O3 for efficient ammonia decomposition

The activity of Ru/Sm₂O₃ catalyst for ammonia decomposition can be greatly improved by modulating the metal–support interaction of the catalyst.

Promotional effects of rare earth elements (Sc, Y, Ce, and Pr) on NiMgAl catalysts for dry reforming of methane

The promoting effects of rare earth elements on NiMgAl catalysts for dry reforming of methane were clarified.

The origin of a large apparent tortuosity factor for the Knudsen diffusion inside monoliths of a samaria–alumina aerogel catalyst: a diffusion NMR study

The contribution from surface diffusion into the apparent tortuosity factor can be separated for light gases in a porous catalyst.

A novel and anti-agglomerating Ni@yolk–ZrO2 structure with sub-10 nm Ni core for high performance steam reforming of methane

A Ni@yolk–ZrO₂ catalyst is used to study steam reforming of methane under various GHSVs and steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratios, and its recyclability. The catalyst was evaluated on a time stream and we identified its anti-agglomeration properties and coking mechanism.

A mild route to solid-supported rhodium nanoparticle catalysts and their application to the selective hydrogenation reaction of substituted arenes

A clean route is described for the preparation of 1.3% (w/w) supported rhodium nanoparticle (3.0 ± 0.7 nm) catalysts onto commercial ion-exchange resins.

Interaction of oxygen with samarium on Al2O3 thin film grown on Ni3Al(111)

The interaction between oxygen and samarium (Sm) on the well-ordered thin Al2O3 film grown on Ni3Al(111) has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy. At Sm coverage higher than one monolayer, exposure of oxygen to the Sm films at room temperature leads to the formation of both samarium peroxide (O2(2-)) states and regular samarium oxide (O(2-)) states. By contrast, when exposing O2 to Sm film less than one monolayer on Al2O3, no O2(2-) can be observed. Upon heating to higher temperatures, these metastable O2(2-) states dissociate, supplying active O atoms which can diffuse through the Al2O3 thin film to further oxidize the underlying Ni3Al(111) substrate, leading to the significant increase of the Al2O3 thin film thickness. Therefore, it can be concluded that Sm, presumably in its peroxide form, acts as a catalyst for the further oxidation of the Ni3Al substrate by supplying the active oxygen species at elevated temperatures.

Promising ceria–samaria-based nano-oxides for low temperature soot oxidation: a combined study of structure–activity properties

Nanostructured Ce–Sm mixed oxides are promising catalysts for diesel soot oxidation through facile active oxygen participation.