Work

To Coke or Not to Coke: When Pd Is Not Noble Anymore under Methane Dry Reforming Conditions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide We explore the fundamental pathways of carbon formation and regeneration in a model Pd/Zr catalyst during dry reforming of methane (DRM) and under related reaction conditions. Using a combination of XPS, SEM, and EDX, we track the structural and chemical changes of the catalyst throughout the reaction, deactivation, and regeneration cycles. By systematically adjusting feed composition, CO 2 conversion, and regeneration atmospheres, the study identifies how different gas-phase species contribute to carbon formation and clean-off. It also determines the conditions that influence the accessibility of the reactive metal–oxide interfaces. A comparison with the analogous Ni/Zr system highlights how the choice of the metal affects regeneration chemistry and the importance of accessible metal oxide phase boundaries in CO 2 activation. The experimental setup combines temperature-resolved reaction profiling with micro- and spectroscopic surface characterization at key intermediate stages, enabling direct links among catalytic activity, surface morphology, and regeneration results. This approach offers insights into how catalyst design, operational conditions, and regeneration methods can be optimized to achieve high DRM activity and effective carbon management in noble metal–oxide systems.

Source: ACS Catalysis

DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5c07296

Authors: Mahdi Hosseinpour, Thomas F. Winterstein, Clivia Hejny, Marc Heggen, Bernhard Klötzer, Simon Penner

Institutions: Universität Innsbruck, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Ernst Ruska Centre

Language: English

Topic: Catalysts for Methane Reforming

Subfield: Catalysis

Field: Chemical Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funders: Austrian Science Fund, Universität Innsbruck