(515f) Silica-Supported Ni-Mo Nanoparticle Alloys As Catalysts for Hydrogen Production Via Fuel Reforming

This work describes the synthesis of nickel-molybdenum nanoparticle alloys supported on silica, which was achieved combining different techniques such as incipient wet impregnation and sol gel. The silica-supported nanosized alloys thus prepared were tested for the steam reforming of different fuels, showing a catalytic activity strongly dependent on the alloy composition. Thus, when methane was used as a fuel, nickel-molybdenum alloys with low molybdenum content showed high reforming activity after 24 h on stream, with a conversion of 100%, a H₂ yield of 52% and a CO yield of 58%, at 700°C, 1 atm, and a steam to carbon ration of 4. On the other hand, when commercial canola biodiesel was used as fuel, nickel-molybdenum alloys with high molybdenum content showed a high performance after 24 h on stream, with a carbon conversion of 100%, a H₂ yield of 93% and a CO yield of 92%, at 850°C, 1 atm and a steam to carbon ration of only 1. The high coking resistance exhibited by these catalytic materials is believed to be related to an electron transfer phenomenon taking place between molybdenum and nickel. The results of this investigation open the possibility to fabricate Mo-modified nickel anodes for solid oxide fuel cells, with high reforming activity and high resistance to deactivation due to coking.