Insight into CeO2 and Ni collaboration in ethanol steam reforming: Enhanced activity and stability of CeO2 modified Ni/MgAl2O4

This work focused on optimizing the synergistic effect between CeO 2 and Ni in CeO 2 modified Ni/MgAl 2 O 4 . Six catalysts for ethanol steam reforming (ESR), including NiCeMgAl, CeO 2 /NiMgAl, Ni/CeMgAl, Ni-CeO 2 /MgAl 2 O 4 , Ni/CeO 2 /MgAl 2 O 4 and CeO 2 /Ni/MgAl 2 O 4 , were synthesized by sol–gel and/or impregnation methods, which controlled the introduction order of Ce(NO 3 ) 3 . Ni/CeMgAl showed a satisfactory stability with 90.6 % of ethanol conversion after 100 h test, 66.9 % of H 2 concentration in product, and an excellent anti-coking ability with 0.72 mg c /(g cat ·h). The optimal catalytic performance of Ni/CeMgAl benefits from the unique distribution of components, which provides adequate Ni 0 active sites for C-C bonds scission, maintains a stable particle size of metallic Ni, and suppresses the side reactions and carbonization of intermediates on CeO 2 sites. This work illuminates the important of coordinating the ability of Ni and CeO 2 for ESR and presents a new insight into the design of low-cost and high-performance catalysts in practical applications.