Spontaneous activation behavior of NiSn, an intermetallic catalyst, for hydrogen production via methanol decomposition

Fan, M.*; Xu, Y.*; Sakurai, Junya*; Demura, Masahiko*; Hirano, Toshiyuki*; Teraoka, Yuden; Yoshigoe, Akitaka

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 40(37), p.12663 - 12673, 2015/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.05.197

The catalytic properties of single-phase NiSn powder in the production of hydrogen via the decomposition of methanol were investigated in isothermal tests at 713, 793, and 873 K. The catalytic activity of NiSn significantly increased with time at 793 and 873 K, but not at 713 K, suggesting that NiSn is spontaneously activated at temperatures above 793 K. At these temperatures, NiSn showed high selectivity for H and CO production and low selectivity for CH, CO, and HO production, indicating that methanol decomposition was the main reaction, and that side reactions such as methanation and water-gas shift reaction were suppressed. Surface analysis revealed that fine NiSn particles were formed during the reaction, accompanied by a small amount of deposited carbon. The formation of these particles was suggested to be the cause for the spontaneous activation of NiSn.