Hydrogen production via propane steam reforming using Rh nanoparticles ex-solved from ceria in nano-domain

Abstract

Ex-solution phenomena recently have emerged as a new method to prepare a catalyst with a strong anchoring effects between metals and its host oxide. So far perovskite materials have mainly used as a host oxide for ex-solution phenomena, but its low surface area had often been pointed to be overcome for practical use, thus there is a growing need for research on ex-solution phenomena from other non-perovskite oxides. In this work, nano-domain Rh doped ceria was synthesized by co-precipitation method and reduction treatment was carried out to occur ex-solution of Rh from the host oxide. In-situ TEM and other characterization as HADDF-STEM, High-Resolution XRD showed experimental evidences that Rh were segregated from the nano-domain ceria host and formed nanoparticles on the surface. The catalyst prepared by ex-solution method was further tested in propane steam reforming for hydrogen production and showed no degradation in performance for 65h of prolonged reaction time at 700°C. The catalyst also showed enhanced sintering resistance at high temperature and better coking resistance during the reforming reaction compared to a conventional $Rh/CeO_{2}$ prepared by wet-impregnation.