SULFUR-TOLERANT AND CARBON-RESISTANT BIMETALLIC CATALYSTS FOR STEAM REFORMING OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON FUELS FOR FUEL CELLS

摘要

This lecture discusses the recent advances in catalytic steam reforming of liquid fuels for fuel cell applications. Catalytic fuel processing for fuel cells has been the focus of numerous recent studies, as summarized in several reviews. Liquid hydrocarbon fuels are high-density fuels that are widely available for fuel cell applications, but the higher hydrocarbons can cause coke formation and the organic sulfur leads to sulfur poisoning of the catalysts. Thus a major challenge is to develop sulfur-tolerant and carbon-resistant catalysts for steam reforming of liquid hydrocarbon fuels at low-temperature for fuel cells. Rhodium catalysts are active for low-temperature steam reforming of hydrocarbons but are easily poisoned by sulfur. Nickel catalysts are widely used for natural gas reforming for hydrogen production but suffer from quick coking with higher hydrocarbon feeds.