Use of hydrogen as a localized energy source for fuel cell powered vehicles or electronic devices is a promising way to extend range and reduce pollution. Several problems associated with onboard storage of molecular hydrogen can be eliminated by onboard catalytic production of hydrogen from a high-energy liquid fuel such as methanol. Both Pd-Zn and Cu/ZnO based catalysts are well known as active and selective catalysts for oxidative methanol reforming reactions1,2. Our group has previously studied co-precipitated catalysts for the partial oxidation of methanol3, and modifications of solution combustion synthesis4. This work presents novel synthesis routes for preparing complex oxide catalysts for the partial oxidation of methanol.

Catalysts containing combinations of copper, zinc, zirconium, and palladium oxides were prepared via three combustion synthesis routes including traditional volume combustion synthesis (VCS), impregnated active layer combustion (IALC), and second combustion wave (SCW) methods. In VCS mode reactants are dissolved in water to reach homogenization on the molecular level. The solution is preheated until self-ignition where the temperature rises rapidly as a combustion reaction. High temperature, accompanied by intensive gasification during a short time period converts the initial solution to a fine, highly crystallized powder. To prepare an IALC catalyst, an inert oxide support was immersed into a reaction solution containing nitrate precursors of the active material and fuel. A combustion reaction leads to the metal incorporation onto the support. SCW preparations are similar to IALC, except the support is a previously prepared via VCS.

These preparations were evaluated for their activity and selectivity in the partial oxidation of methanol and characterized via XRD, XPS, N2O chemisorption and BET techniques. The novel methods of preparation, IALC and SCW, showed superior active metal loadings and surface areas compared to traditional VCS methods, leading to higher catalytic activity. Indicating that these methods are competitive for catalyst synthesis compared to other more traditional methods.

1. Cubeiro, M.L. and Fierro, J.L.G.; Jor. of Catal. 179, 150-162 (1998). 2. Cheng, W.H.; Appl. Catal A: General 130, 13-30 (1995). 3. Schuyten, S.J. and Wolf, E.E.; Catal. Lett. 106, 7-14 (2006). 4. Mukasyan, A., Epstein P. and Dinka, P.; Proc. Comb. Institute, 31(2), 1789 (2007).