High-purity hydrogen production from aqueous-phase reforming of methanol over supported Pt nanoparticles on Na-doped zirconia

Abstract

Efficient hydrogen production is crucial for advancing a sustainable hydrogen economy. Aqueous-phase reforming of methanol (APRM) is a promising strategy to leverage water-gas shift (WGS) chemistry for enhanced H2 selectivity under mild conditions. However, methane formation and catalyst deactivation remain major challenges. This study focuses on the effects of Na promoter on APRM activity, methane selectivity and stability of Pt/ZrO2. By examining various methods of Na addition, Na doping alters Pt dispersion, ZrO2 structure and Pt–ZrO2 interaction. Among the Na-doped Pt/ZrO2 catalysts, Pt/Na–ZrO2(2), prepared by impregnating Pt onto Na–ZrO2 obtained via NaOH precipitation and double-washing, exhibits superior performance, maintaining a 52.0 mol% conversion (1.3-fold higher than 40.0 mol% for Pt/ZrO2) and 412 μmolH2 gcat−1 min−1 hydrogen production over 100 h. Na incorporation into the ZrO2 lattice creates an electron-rich ZrO2 surface, which facilitates the formation of low-coordinated Pt sites adjacent to Na species. These sites, in turn, favor CO adsorption for the WGS reaction.