Cu/ZnO and Cu/ZnO/ZrO2 catalysts used for methanol steam reforming

• Published in: Molecular catalysis Vol. 454; pp. 55 - 62
• Main Authors: Sanches, S.G., Flores, J. Huertas, da Silva, M.I. Pais
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2018
• Subjects: Cu/Zn/Zr catalyst; EXAFS; Hydrogen production; Methanol steam reforming; XANES; Methanol steam reforming; Cu/Zn/Zr catalyst; XANES; EXAFS; Hydrogen production
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mcat.2018.05.012
• ISSN: 2468-8231

[Display omitted] •Cu/Zn/Zr catalysts were prepared by conventional precipitation.•The catalyst precursor phase was aurichalcite.•Zr species were amorphous −like but affected the catalyst structure.•Zr promoter facilitated the exposition of large amounts of CuO crystallites. Cu/ZnO and Cu/ZnO/ZrO2 catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation method and used in methanol steam reforming at 250 °C. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), H2 temperature-programmed desorption (H2-TPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). ZrO2 affect the textural, structural and morphological properties of the CuO/ZnO catalyst. ZrO2 nanoclusters or amorphous material was found in Zr-based catalyst which role was to prevent the CuO and ZnO crystallite growth causing a microstrain in Cu and Zn oxides lattice. This effect facilitated the formation of exposed CuO species, which were easier to reduce and favored the catalytic performance of Zr-based catalyst. Monoclinic ZrO2 found in Zr-based catalyst decrease the CO formation deeply because of the higher capacity of monoclinical ZrO2 to adsorbed CO. The Cu2O active site found in CuO/ZnO catalyst was not more efficient than active sites in Zr-based catalyst. The results confirmed that the interactions between Cu and ZnO/ZrO2 were different from those between Cu and ZnO.