Synthesis, characterization and catalytic performances of Ce-SBA-15 supported nickel catalysts for methane dry reforming to hydrogen and syngas

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 19 - 30
• Main Authors: Wang, Ning, Chu, Wei, Zhang, Tao, Zhao, X.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Catalysis; Cerium-incorporated SBA-15; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; High catalytic performance; Hydrogen; Hydrogen production; Methane dry reforming; Nano nickel catalyst; Methane dry reforming; High catalytic performance; Cerium-incorporated SBA-15; Hydrogen production; Nano nickel catalyst
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.03.138

A series of Ce-incorporated SBA-15 mesoporous materials were synthesized through direct hydrothermal synthesis method and further impregnated with 12 wt.% Ni. The samples were characterized by ICP-AES, XRD, N 2 physisorption, XPS, TPR, H 2 chemisorption, TGA, temperature-programmed hydrogenation (TPH) and TEM measurements. The low-angle XRD and N 2 physisorption results showed the Ce successfully incorporated into the framework of SBA-15. The catalytic properties of these catalysts were investigated in methane reforming with CO 2. The Ce/Si molar ratio had a significant influence on the catalytic performance. The highest catalytic activity and long-term stability were obtained over the Ni/Ce-SBA-15 (Ce/Si = 0.04) sample. The improved catalytic behavior could be attributed to the cerium impact in the framework of SBA-15, where cerium promoted the dispersion of nano-sized Ni species and inhibited the carbon formation. In comparison with the effect of CeO 2 crystallites in SBA-15, cerium in the framework of SBA-15 promoted the formation of the nickel metallic particles with smaller size. The XRD and TGA results exhibited that carbon deposition was responsible for activity loss of Ni/SBA-15 and Ni/Ce-SBA-15 (Ce/Si = 0.06) catalysts. TEM results showed that the hexagonal mesopores of SBA-15 were still kept intact after reaction and the pore walls of SBA-15 prevented the aggregation of nickel.