A new systematic synthesis of ultimate nickel nanocatalysts for compact hydrogen generation

Nickel (Ni)-based materials have been shown as good catalysts for hydrogen production by steam reforming of methane, but the hydrogen productivity has been restricted due to agglomeration among particles on Ni loaded catalysts. A new strategy is demonstrated by which to produce ultimate nickel nanocatalysts with high particle dispersion and high metal loading by using automated and systematic synthesis tools based on a simple melt-infiltration process and thermal treatment. The systematic sequence can yield highly dispersed Ni nanoparticles (4.5 nm) with high metal loading (25 wt%) on porous alumina (u-Ni/Al2O3) as an ultimate catalyst.