Issue 9, 2019

In situ catalyst exsolution on perovskite oxides for the production of CO and synthesis gas in ceramic membrane reactors

Abstract

This work demonstrates and assesses the concept of in situ catalyst exsolution in ceramic membrane reactors for the co-production of carbon monoxide (CO) and syngas through carbon dioxide (CO2) splitting and methane (CH4) partial oxidation, respectively. We use dense pellets of La0.85Ca0.10Fe0.95Ni0.05O3−δ (LCFN) as a model membrane reactor system. By combining in situ reaction rate measurements under finite oxygen (O2) flux and ex situ material characterization, we show that exsolution of nickel (Ni0) metal nanoparticles takes place in situ on both sides of the LCFN membrane under sufficiently reducing conditions controlled by the presence of CH4. To understand the impact of temperature and inlet fuel concentration on the nucleation, performance and long-term stability of the catalytic particles, exsolution of Ni0 from LCFN was investigated at 900 °C, 950 °C and 1000 °C and with different concentrations of CH4. Nickel particles with sizes ranging between 100 nm and 300 nm formed on LCFN pellets at 950 °C and 1000 °C using CH4 as the in situ reducing agent at a threshold inlet CH4 mole fraction of 16% and 4%, respectively. Nickel exsolution was not observed at 900 °C. No pre-reduction of the sample in a hydrogen (H2) environment was required. As a result, significant performance increase was obtained. Exsolution on LCFN samples at different temperatures results in almost identical performance when compared under similar conditions. Reaction rates obtained after nickel exsolution were stable over long durations, suggesting that the grown particles are resistant to agglomeration in the hydrocarbon environment. Results shown in this work demonstrate that in situ, on demand catalyst exsolution by using the feedstock fuel can be an effective way of improving the surface kinetics of perovskite oxides for ceramic membranes.

Graphical abstract: In situ catalyst exsolution on perovskite oxides for the production of CO and synthesis gas in ceramic membrane reactors

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Apr 2019
Accepted
25 Jun 2019
First published
25 Jun 2019
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2019,3, 2347-2355

In situ catalyst exsolution on perovskite oxides for the production of CO and synthesis gas in ceramic membrane reactors

G. Dimitrakopoulos, A. F. Ghoniem and B. Yildiz, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2019, 3, 2347 DOI: 10.1039/C9SE00249A

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