Abstract
Supported gold on co-precipitated nanosized NiAl layered double hydroxides (LDHs) was studied as an effective catalyst for medium-temperature water–gas shift (WGS) reaction, an industrial catalytic process traditionally applied for the reduction in the amount of CO in the synthesis gas and production of pure hydrogen. The motivation of the present study was to improve the performance of the Au/NiAl catalyst via modification by CeO2. An innovative approach for the direct deposition of ceria (1, 3 or 5 wt.%) on NiAl-LDH, based on the precipitation of Ce3+ ions with 1M NaOH, was developed. The proposed method allows us to obtain the CeO2 phase and to preserve the NiAl layered structure by avoiding the calcination treatment. The synthesis of Au-containing samples was performed through the deposition–precipitation method. The as-prepared and WGS-tested samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, N2-physisorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in order to clarify the effects of Au and CeO2 loading on the structure, phase composition, textural and electronic properties and activity of the catalysts. The reduction behavior of the studied samples was evaluated by temperature-programmed reduction. The WGS performance of Au/NiAl catalysts was significantly affected by the addition of CeO2. A favorable role of ceria was revealed by comparison of CO conversion degree at 220 °C reached by 3 wt.% CeO2-modified and ceria-free Au/NiAl samples (98.8 and 83.4%, respectively). It can be stated that tuning the properties of Au/NiAl LDH via CeO2 addition offers catalysts with possibilities for practical application owing to innovative synthesis and improved WGS performance.
Highlights
Among the key drivers responsible for the renewed interest in the water–gas shift (WGS) reaction is associated with the growing hydrogen production
The manufacture of pure hydrogen for fuel cell applications requires the consideration that the presence of CO in the produced H2 -rich synthesis gas could irreversibly destroy the metal anode in the fuel cells
We started with the synthesis of CeO2 aiming to verify the literature reports that ceria can be obtained directly by precipitation of Ce3+ ions with alkaline solution
Summary
Among the key drivers responsible for the renewed interest in the water–gas shift (WGS) reaction is associated with the growing hydrogen production. The utilization of pure hydrogen in energy conversion technologies as fuel cells is anticipated to ensure an environmentally friendly way to satisfy global energy needs [1,2]. The manufacture of pure hydrogen for fuel cell applications requires the consideration that the presence of CO in the produced H2 -rich synthesis gas could irreversibly destroy the metal anode in the fuel cells. The purification of synthesis gas by CO subtraction is of particular importance, and is commonly attained via conversion of CO by water vapor, referred to as WGS reaction (CO + H2 O ↔ CO2 + H2 , ∆H = −41.2 kJ mol−1 ).
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