PdZn catalysts prepared by washcoating microstructured reactors

• Published in: Applied catalysis. A, General Vol. 270; no. 1-2; pp. 165 - 175
• Main Authors: Pfeifer, P., Schubert, K., Liauw, M.A., Emig, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 30.08.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Catalysis; Chemistry; Dispersion; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Metal interaction; Methanol steam reforming; Microchannel reactor; Microstructured reactor; Nanoparticle washcoat; PdZn; Secondary reaction; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; X-ray backscattering; Microstructured reactor; Methanol steam reforming; Nanoparticle washcoat; Microchannel reactor; X-ray backscattering; Metal interaction; Secondary reaction; PdZn; Dispersion; Reactor; Catalyst
• ISSN: 0926-860X; 1873-3875
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2004.04.037

Methanol steam reforming is an option for dynamic hydrogen generation in automotive fuel cell systems. Microstructured reactors with small channels (100μm×100μm) are being studied. A washcoating procedure applying dispersed ZnO nanoparticles to the microchannel walls was adapted to the PdZn catalyst system. The catalyst layer showed no significant differences during X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed oxidation and reduction experiments for examination of oxidation state and alloy formation compared with other PdZn systems reported in the literature. Chemisorption with different adsorbates and X-ray backscattering were used for gathering detailed information on PdZn dispersion, diameter and shape with respect to the preparation parameters. Catalytic experiments yielded a relationship between the catalyst properties and the catalytic activity, degradation and secondary reactions.