The effects of ZrO2 on Cu-ZnO-ZrO2 catalysts for hydrogen generation by steam reforming of methanol

The effects of Zr in CuO-ZnO-ZrO2 catalysts on the diameter of CuO and ZnO, BET surface area of the catalysts as well as the catalytic activity have been studied by XRD, TEM, BET and the evaluation of catalytic activity for steam reforming of methanol (SRM). The results indicated that the diameter of catalyst particle was lowered from 15 to 10 nm (the average diameters of CuO and ZnO were lowered from 7.7 and 10.4 nm to 3.9 and 8.7 nm, respectively), the BET surface area was increased from 60 to 78 m(2) (.) g(-1) due to the existence of Zr. The conversion of methanol and the sensitivity of both hydrogen and carbon dioxide over Cu-ZnO-ZrO2 catalysts in SRM reaction were changed along with content of Zr in the catalysts. The conversion of methanol of 51.6% and the sensitivity of both hydrogen and carbon dioxide of 100% (content of CO and CH4 was lower than 10(-4)(phi) and can not be detected by 102GC) were obtained under the following reaction conditions: Zr content of 24.0% (omega) in the catalyst, reaction temperature of 220 degreesC and mole ratio of water to methanol of 1.3. These results have important significance in the application of steam reformer of methanol for methanol fuel cell.