Yolk-shell structured Pt-CeO2@Ni-SiO2 as an efficient catalyst for enhanced hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming

A novel Pt-CeO2@Ni-SiO2 yolk-shell catalyst was fabricated through modified Stöber method and was applied to the ethanol steam reforming reaction. The catalyst structure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Compared with the mechanically mixed catalyst, the yolk-shell catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic performance and stability in ethanol steam reforming. The selection of hydrogen reached as high as 66%, and the conversion reached nearly 100% at 400 °C for 28 h.