Highly efficient ruthenium and ruthenium–platinum cluster-derived nanocatalysts for hydrogen production via ethanol steam reforming

• Published in: Catalysis communications Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 170 - 175
• Main Authors: Koh, Alaric C.W., Leong, Weng Kee, Chen, Luwei, Ang, Thiam Peng, Lin, Jianyi, Johnson, Brian F.G., Khimyak, Tetyana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 2008
• Subjects: Ethanol; Hydrogen; Organometallic cluster; Steam reforming; Supported nanoparticles; Steam reforming; Ethanol; Hydrogen; Organometallic cluster; Supported nanoparticles
• ISSN: 1566-7367; 1873-3905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2007.05.034

Alumina-supported Ru and Ru–Pt nanoparticles, obtained by the decarbonylation of organometallic cluster precursors, were found to be highly active and selective catalysts for ethanol steam reforming. These catalysts outperformed a commercial Ru/Al
2O
3 catalyst, as well as catalysts that had been prepared from inorganic salts using the conventional impregnation method. The highly dispersed nanoparticles derived from cluster precursors were much smaller than the salt-derived nanoparticles, as evidenced by TEM and powder XRD studies; this might account for the improved catalytic performance of the cluster-derived catalysts. Finally, EDX studies suggest that Pt played a role in resisting coke formation in both cluster- and salt-derived catalysts.