Novel route to control the size, distribution and location of Ni nanoparticles in mesoporous silica for steam reforming of propylene glycol in microchannel reactor

• Size and location controlled Ni nanoparticles in mesoporous nanochannels were achieved.
• Sucrose was used as a new delivery conveyor and sacrificial template.
• Small size Ni nanoparticles show higher catalytic performance.
• The tiny Ni nanoparticles possess excellent coking and sintering resistance.

Highly dispersed and size controlled Ni nanoparticles (NPs) in SBA-15 were synthesized by thermolysis of sucrose as a new delivery conveyor and sacrificial template. The Ni/SBA-15 catalysts were characterized systematically to elucidate their morphological structure and surface properties. It was found that the sucrose contributes majorly to control the size and higher distribution of Ni NPs by prevents their sintering into mesoporous nanochannels. The catalytic performance of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts was investigated by steam reforming of propylene glycol in microchannel reactor. As compared with conventional Ni-impregnated catalyst, the catalyst prepared with sucrose assisted route improves the coking and sintering resistance in steam reforming reaction of propylene glycol.

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