Preparation and characterization of high-performance Ni-based core–shell catalyst for ethanol steam reforming

A core–shell catalyst, based on nickel nanoparticles supported on silica nanospheres and surrounded by ceria, was tested for ethanol steam reforming (ESR) reaction (H2O/ethanol: 3/1) under low-temperature conditions (400, 500 and 600 °C) in order to test its stability during the reaction. Two other catalysts of Ni supported in SiO2 and CeO2 were also synthesized to be compared with the core–shell catalyst in the ESR. All catalysts showed excellent activity at 500 and 600 °C with 100% ethanol conversion. Increasing the reaction temperature, carbon deposition on the surface of the catalysts decreases throughout the reaction. The core–shell catalyst showed high coke inhibition capacity in the ESR at 600 °C, without coke formation for at least 100 h of reaction. On the other hand, after 20 h of ESR at 600 °C, Ni–SiO2 and Ni/CeO2 catalysts showed formation of 6.3 and 5.2 mgC/(gcat.h) of coke, respectively. The strong redox capacity of ceria together with the change in catalyst structure due to the deposition of cerium oxide on top of Ni particles led to an excellent ESR activity of this catalyst.