A series of Ni-Al2O3 catalysts derived from layered double hydroxides for vapor phase catalytic exchange between water and hydrogen

Fabricating supported metal catalysts from layered double hydroxides (LDHs) is a promising strategy to develop high-efficient and low-cost materials for water detritiation. In this work, a series of NiAl-LDHs with different Ni/Al ratios were prepared and reduced to obtain Ni-based catalysts with Al2O3 support (Nix-Al2O3) and further tested in vapor phase catalytic exchange (VPCE) process. Results revealed that the activity of catalysts varies with Ni/ Al molar ratios and is also affected by textural properties. Remarkably, the Ni2-Al2O3 with the Ni/Al molar ratio of 2 exhibited excellent activity, due to the balanced factors of Ni content, specific surface area, Ni particle size and Al3+ configuration proportion. This study sheds some light on reaction mechanism of VPCE process and may be applicable for the rational design of highly efficient catalysts. (c) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.