Concentrated Platinum-Gallium Nanoalloy for Hydrogen Production from the Catalytic Steam Reforming of Ethanol

The steam reforming of ethanol (SRE) is a key process for the production of H-2 and other vital hydrocarbons. The present work describes the synthesis of Platinum-Gallium (Pt-Ga) nanoalloys supported on mesostructured cellular foam (MCF-17) via ultrasound-assisted impregnation method. Ga was substituted with Pt in different wt.% i. e. Pt/MCF-17, Pt99.9Ga0.1/MCF-17, Pt99Ga1/MCF-17, and Pt90Ga10/MCF-17 and was evaluated towards the SRE at a temperature range of 473K-773 K towards hydrogen (H-2), acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), diethylether (DEE), ethylene (C2H4), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and ethane (C2H6). The SRE activity and H-2 formation rate with Pt90Ga10/MCF-17 catalyst were observed to be 68.1 % and 3047.2 nmole g(-1) sec(-1), which is 9.8 and 4.5 times more than the Pt/MCF-17 counterparts. Moreover, as observed from DRIFTS, NH3-TPD and XPS studies Ga showed high interaction with Pt in the electron deficit state which resulted in the increased dehydrogenating and acidic properties that resulted in a higher yield of H-2.