Oxidation resistance of Ni/La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ catalyst for steam reforming of model aromatic hydrocarbon

•Hydrogen production by steam reforming of model aromatic hydrocarbons, toluene.•Ni catalysts supported on La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ showed oxidative resistance.•Ni particle on La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ retained fine structure even after reduction/oxidation treatment.•Ni/La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ catalysts showed steam reforming activity even after the oxidation treatment.•XANES spectra, TPR and XPS measurements for elucidating the reducibility were investigated.

Oxidative resistance of Ni catalysts supported on various oxides La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ, LaAlO3, and α-Al2O3 were investigated for hydrogen production by steam reforming of model aromatic hydrocarbons. Ni/α-Al2O3 lost its steam reforming activity by oxidation treatment. In contrast, Ni/La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ and Ni/LaAlO3 catalysts showed steam reforming activity even after the oxidation treatment. The XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) spectra at Ni K-edge for Ni/La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ and Ni/α-Al2O3 after oxidation treatment revealed that the supported Ni on La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ and α-Al2O3 were oxidized completely. Although the mean particle size of Ni on Ni/α-Al2O3 increased by oxidation treatment or reduction treatment, Ni particles on Ni/La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ retained the fine structure after oxidation treatment or reduction treatment. Moreover, TPR (temperature programmed reduction) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) measurements for elucidating the reducibility of Ni/La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ showed that the supported Ni on La0.7Sr0.3AlO3−δ was easily reduced even after the oxidation treatment.

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