Characterization of alumina-supported Pt, Ni and PtNi alloy catalysts for the dry reforming of methane

• Published in: Journal of catalysis 2010-08, Vol.274 (1), p.11-20
• Main Authors: García-Diéguez, Mónica, Finocchio, Elisabetta, Larrubia, María Ángeles, Alemany, Luis J., Busca, Guido
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloy catalysts; Alumina; Catalysis; Catalysts; Chemistry; CO adsorption; Dry reforming; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; IR spectroscopy; Methane; Nanoparticles; Nanostructured alumina; Ni catalysts; PtNi alloy catalysts; Reforming catalysts; Spectrum analysis; Supported Pt catalysts; Surface physical chemistry; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 0021-9517; 1090-2694
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2010.05.020

Surface Pt-enriched Pt–Ni alloy nanoparticles supported on fibrous alumina are excellent catalysts for methane dry reforming. Two bimetallic PtNi catalysts supported on a nanostructured γ-Al 2O 3 together with the corresponding monometallic materials, employed for the dry reforming of methane, have been prepared and characterized. Characterization of the catalysts, in reduced form, has been performed by FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed carbon monoxide at low and room temperature. XRD, TEM and XPS analysis have also been performed. IR spectra of adsorbed CO indicate that the surface of the PtNi catalysts is dominated by Pt centers, whose electron-withdrawing character is increased by Ni. It has also been confirmed the formation of PtNi alloy, which is enriched at the surface by Pt and has smaller metal crystal size than metal particles in monometallic Pt and Ni catalysts. The alloy formation is associated with higher activity and lower production of carbonaceous materials upon dry reforming of methane.