Ternary NiMo-Bi liquid alloy catalyst for efficient hydrogen production from methane pyrolysis

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Sustainable Energy

Background:

• Methane pyrolysis (MP) offers a promising route for carbon-negative hydrogen production, yielding valuable solid carbon.
• A significant challenge in MP is the development of efficient catalysts for stable operation at moderate temperatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly efficient and stable catalyst for methane pyrolysis.
• To investigate the catalytic performance of a novel ternary NiMo-Bi liquid alloy catalyst (LAC).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a ternary NiMo-Bi liquid alloy catalyst (LAC) by modifying a Ni-Bi liquid alloy with Molybdenum.
• Characterization of the catalyst's performance in methane pyrolysis, including activation energy, temperature range, and hydrogen generation efficiency.
• Evaluation of catalyst stability and product selectivity at elevated temperatures.

Main Results:

• The NiMo-Bi LAC demonstrated a low activation energy of 81.2 kJ/mol, enabling MP between 450-800°C.
• Achieved a high hydrogen generation efficiency of 4.05 ml/g(Ni)/min.
• Exhibited 100% H2 selectivity and 120 hours of stability at 800°C.

Conclusions:

• The developed NiMo-Bi LAC significantly enhances methane pyrolysis efficiency and stability.
• This catalyst represents a breakthrough for practical, CO2-free hydrogen production via methane pyrolysis.
• The solid carbon by-product also presents opportunities for carbon utilization.