Functional nanomaterials to lower the operation temperatures for H₂ production from various bio-alcohols

Nowadays, over 90% H2 is still produced from steam reforming of natural gas. This process requires high temperature operation. Moreover, the natural gas is mostly provided from fossil fuel resources. In order to minimize the environmental impact, hydrogen produced from biomass resource has been a critical issue to the Department of Energy (DOE) in USA and abroad. The synthesis of functional nanomaterials offers a unique opportunity to make the breakthrough discoveries and truly revolutionary developments to meet these challenges. Our work here is to produce H2 from various bio-alcohols, such as ethanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol and other heavier biomass over a series of catalysts supported on transition metal oxide nanoparticle. The prepared samples were characterized with Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), chemisorption, Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) using the AutoChem II 2920 (Micromeritics). The structural and chemical properties are characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption (XAS) techniques at NSLS of the Brookhaven National Laboratory. The roles of the transition metal oxide nanoparticles in the reforming of bio-alcohols including ethanol, ethylene glycol (EG) and glycerol were tested and compared with in situ X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption techniques. The XAS data are processed and analyzed using the ATHENA and ARTEMIS analysis software.