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Mechanochemically Engineered Bimetallic PtNi/CeO2 Catalysts for Enhanced Methane Steam Reforming
Andrea Braga1, Marina Armengol-Profitós1, Laia Pascua-Solé1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Energy Technologies, and Center for Research in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Eduard Maristany 10-14, Barcelona 08019, Spain.
ACS Catalysis
|February 26, 2026
Summary
Mechanochemical synthesis using ball milling produced highly active bimetallic platinum-nickel/cerium oxide (PtNi/CeO2) catalysts for methane steam reforming (MSR). These catalysts significantly outperformed conventionally prepared ones, showing enhanced performance and potential for coke resistance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science: Synthesis and characterization of advanced catalytic materials.
- Chemical Engineering: Catalysis for energy conversion and chemical production.
Background:
- Methane steam reforming (MSR) is crucial for hydrogen production but requires efficient catalysts.
- Traditional catalyst synthesis methods may not optimize properties for demanding reactions like MSR.
- Mechanochemical synthesis offers a novel route to tune catalyst structure and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize bimetallic PtNi/CeO2 catalysts using a mechanochemical ball milling approach.
- To systematically investigate the impact of milling parameters on catalyst properties and MSR performance.
- To compare the efficacy of mechanochemically synthesized catalysts against conventionally prepared ones.
Main Methods:
- Catalyst synthesis via ball milling (mechanochemical approach).
- Optimization using fractional factorial design of experiments for milling parameters (frequency, time, ball-to-powder ratio).
- Characterization using XRD, H2-TPR, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, in situ XANES, and NAP-XPS.
- Catalytic activity testing in a plug flow reactor under high space velocity conditions.
Main Results:
- Mechanochemically synthesized PtNi/CeO2 catalysts demonstrated superior methane conversion (83.5%) compared to impregnated catalysts (64%) at 700 °C.
- Increased milling intensity, particularly milling frequency, enhanced catalytic activity by promoting smaller NiO particle formation.
- In situ studies revealed Pt surface segregation and reduced carbon deposition, indicating coke resistance.
Conclusions:
- Mechanochemical synthesis is a powerful and scalable method for producing high-performance PtNi/CeO2 catalysts for MSR.
- Optimized milling parameters significantly improve catalyst structural properties and catalytic activity.
- The developed catalysts show promise for efficient and durable hydrogen production via methane reforming.
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