Steam reforming of gasoline promoted by partial oxidation reaction on novel bimetallic Ni-based catalysts to generate hydrogen for fuel cell-powered automobile applications

Steam reforming of gasoline fuels combined with partial oxidation reaction on ZSM-5-supported Ni-based bimetallic catalysts and Al2O3-supported Ni-Re bimetallic catalysts with different Ni/Re ratios for hydrogen generation at a relatively lower reaction temperature was studied. The ZSM-5-supported Ni-Ce and Ni-Mo bimetallic catalysts exhibited a higher activity than the Ni/ZSM-5 catalyst for the oxidative reforming of gasoline. Steam reforming of gasoline to produce hydrogen was remarkably promoted by partial oxidation reaction by addition of molecular oxygen to the reaction system on ZSM-5-supported Ni-Ce catalyst. Al2O3-supported Ni-Re catalyst with suitable Ni/Re ratios exhibits unique high activity and sulfur tolerance because of the alloying of Ni with Re to form a new active sites for oxidative steam reforming of gasoline to generate hydrogen. The crystal structure of Al2O3-supported bimetallic Ni-Re catalyst and monometallic catalysts of Ni and Re were characterized by XRD method. Structured changes resulting from the alloying of Ni with Re were found.