Combustion synthesis of the cermet LaCrO3–Ru

Perovskite-type chromites have been previously synthesized employing the combustion method; in the present work a ceramic–metallic composite LaCrO3–Ru was also prepared by the same method. Employing the combustion synthesis, nanocrystalline powders composed by two different phases were achieved, being the particle size of the LaCrO3 ceramic of 11–16 nm, and the average grain size of Ru metallic around 2–5 nm. The ruthenium was dispersed randomly and well distributed over the ceramic phase. TEM studies, revealed the formation of the cermet, finding two different types of particles, most of them dark coloured and with polygonal shapes associated with the ceramic support and others, smaller in size, rounded were assumed to be Ru phase. The cermet showed activity in the partial methanol oxidation, finding the maximum conversion of MeOH to H2 at 327 °C.