Nanoparticle catalysts for methanol steam reforming, and dry reforming of methane

Methanol steam reforming (MSR) provides an efficient and relatively clean method for producing hydrogen. Methanol is a liquid at room temperature, making it easier to store and transport compared to other hydrogen sources like natural gas. MSR offers a compact, high-yield way to generate hydrogen while producing fewer harmful emissions compared to traditional fossil fuel-based methods. This makes it a promising pathway for sustainable energy solutions, especially in applications like fuel cells, portable power generation, and renewable energy storage.

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) provides a sustainable way to convert methane into valuable products like syngas. DRM uses carbon dioxide as a reactant, making it a potential solution for both methane utilization and CO2 mitigation. By transforming these two greenhouse gases into useful chemicals, DRM may not only help to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels but may also contribute to the production of hydrogen, which is essential for clean energy applications. This process could play a significant role in achieving a more sustainable and circular carbon economy.

We study novel nanoparticle catalysts for MSR and DRM using transmission electron microscopy and provide valuable insights into their performance. We also study their dynamic behaviour and structural changes of the catalysts under reaction conditions. By observing the nanoparticles in real-time, we can track their morphology, dispersion, and surface interactions during the catalytic processes. This allows for a better understanding of catalyst deactivation, sintering, and the formation of active sites, which are crucial for optimizing performance and improving the efficiency of reactions.

For more details please refer to the papers:

Divins, N. J.; Kordus, D.; Timoshenko, J.; Sinev, I.; Zegkinoglou, I.; Bergmann, A.; Chee, S. W.; Widrinna, S.; Karslıoğlu, O.; Mistry, H.; Lopez Luna, M.; Zhong, J. Q.; Hoffman, A. S.; Boubnov, A.; Boscoboinik, J. A.; Heggen, M.; Dunin-Borkowski, R. E.; Bare, S. R.; Cuenya, B. R. Operando High-Pressure Investigation of Size-Controlled CuZn Catalysts for the Methanol Synthesis Reaction. Nature Commun 2021, 12 (1), 1435. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21604-7.

Bekheet, M. F.; Delir Kheyrollahi Nezhad, P.; Bonmassar, N.; Schlicker, L.; Gili, A.; Praetz, S.; Gurlo, A.; Doran, A.; Gao, Y.; Heggen, M.; Niaei, A.; Farzi, A.; Schwarz, S.; Bernardi, J.; Klötzer, B.; Penner, S. Steering the Methane Dry Reforming Reactivity of Ni/La2O3 Catalysts by Controlled In Situ Decomposition of Doped La2NiO4 Precursor Structures. ACS Catal. 2021, 11 (1), 43–59. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.0c04290.

Meise, A.; Heggen, M.; Dunin-Borkowski, R. E.; Armbrüster, M. In Situ Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Calcination of Palladium Nitrate Supported on Zinc Oxide. Small Science 2024, 4 (8), 2400048. https://doi.org/10.1002/smsc.202400048.

Contact:

Dr. Marc Heggen
Phone: +49 2461 61-9479
E-Mail: m.heggen@fz-juelich.de