Catalytic decomposition of methane: Ni-promoted perovskite oxide catalysts for turquoise hydrogen and carbon nanomaterials Co-production

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of catalytic decomposition of methane for producing turquoise hydrogen and solid carbon nanomaterials. The focus is on developing cost-effective and high-performance Nickel (Ni)-promoted perovskite oxide catalysts. A series of transition metal, Ni-promoted (La_0.75Ca_0.25)(Cr_0.5Mn_0.5)O_3-δ (LCCM) catalysts have been successfully prepared using water-based gel-casting technology. These catalysts are designed to decompose methane into turquoise hydrogen and carbon nanomaterials, achieving negligible CO₂ emissions. X-ray diffraction results indicate that the solubility of Ni at the B-site of LCCM perovskite is limited, x ≤ 0.2. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis of xNi-LCCM, calcined at 1050 °C for ten h in the air, confirms severe catalyst sintering with excess nickel oxide distributed around the LCCM particles. At a 750 °C operating temperature, a Ni to LCCM molar ratio of 1.5 yields a maximum carbon output of 17.04 g_C/g_Ni. Increasing the molar ratios to 2.0 and 2.5 results in carbon yields of 17.17 g_C/g_Ni and 17.63 g_C/g_Ni, respectively, showing minor changes. The morphology of the carbon nanomaterials is unaffected by the molar ratio of NiO promoter to LCCM and remains nearly the same within the scope of this study.

Keywords

Methane decomposition / Ni-promoted perovskite oxide catalysts / turquoise hydrogen / carbon nanomaterials / metal exsolution

References

[1] Gaucher EC.New perspectives in the industrial exploration for native hydrogen.Elements2020;16:8-9

[2] Tong S,Zhang L.Decarbonizing natural gas: a review of catalytic decomposition and carbon formation mechanisms.Energies2022;15:2573

[3] Tong S,Zhang W,Chan SH.Optimization of methane catalytic decomposition in a fluidized bed reactor: a computational approach.Energy Conver Manag2023;297:117719

[4] Ighalo JO.Recent advances in the catalysis of steam reforming of methane (SRM).Int J Hydrogen Energy2024;51:688-700

[5] Ambrosetti M,Balzarotti R,Groppi G.H₂ production by methane steam reforming over Rh/Al₂O₃ catalyst packed in Cu foams: a strategy for the kinetic investigation in concentrated conditions.Catal Today2022;387:107-18

[6] Nnabuife SG,Okeke NE.Present and projected developments in hydrogen production: a technological review*.Carbon Capture Sci Technol2022;3:100042

[7] Navas-Anguita Z,Dufour J.Revisiting the role of steam methane reforming with CO₂ capture and storage for long-term hydrogen production.Sci Total Environ2021;771:145432

[8] Korányi TI,Beck A.Recent advances in methane pyrolysis: turquoise hydrogen with solid carbon production.Energies2022;15:6342

[9] Ingale GU,Jeong S.Assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from hydrogen production processes: turquoise hydrogen vs. steam methane reforming.Energies2022;15:8679

[10] Chan SH,Hoang DL.A Thermodynamic view of partial oxidation, steam reforming, and autothermal reforming on methane.Int J Green Energy2004;1:265-78

[11] Hoang D,Ding O.Kinetic and modelling study of methane steam reforming over sulfide nickel catalyst on a gamma alumina support.Chem Eng J2005;112:1-11

[12] Hoang D,Ding O.Hydrogen production for fuel cells by autothermal reforming of methane over sulfide nickel catalyst on a gamma alumina support.J Power Sources2006;159:1248-57

[13] Matin NS.Environmental performance of nonthermal plasma dry and conventional steam reforming of methane for hydrogen production: application of life cycle assessment methodology.Int J Hydrogen Energy2024;49:1405-13

[14] Ding X,Yang Y,Guo Y.Steam reforming of methane over nickel-aluminum spinel-derived catalyst.Int J Hydrogen Energy2024;51:1256-66

[15] Do TN,Park M,Kim YT.Carbon-neutral hydrogen production from natural gas via electrified steam reforming: techno-economic-environmental perspective.Energy Convers Manag2023;279:116758

[16] Hamdan M,Abdel Karim Aramouni N,Zeaiter J.Analytical review of the catalytic cracking of methane.Fuel2022;324:124455

[17] Qian JX,Enakonda LR.Methane decomposition to produce CO -free hydrogen and nano-carbon over metal catalysts: a review.Int J Hydrogen Energy2020;45:7981-8001

[18] Qian J,Sun D.Tuning Mg-Fe-O solid solutions towards optimized exsolution of active sites for thermal catalytic decomposition of methane.Chem Eng J2024;497:154595

[19] Abbas HF.Hydrogen production by methane decomposition: a review.Int J Hydrogen Energy2010;35:1160-90

[20] Hazra M,Hudgins RR,Elkamel A.Experimental investigation of the catalytic cracking of methane over a supported Ni catalyst.Can J Chem Eng2009;87:99-105

[21] Mcconnachie M,Smart S.Literature review of the catalytic pyrolysis of methane for hydrogen and carbon production.Int J Hydrogen Energy2023;48:25660-82

[22] Abánades A,Salmieri D.Thermal cracking of methane into hydrogen for a CO₂-free utilization of natural gas.Int J Hydrogen Energy2013;38:8491-6

[23] Jin L,Zhang J.Preparation of activated carbon supported Fe-Al₂O₃ catalyst and its application for hydrogen production by catalytic methane decomposition.Int J Hydrogen Energy2013;38:10373-80

[24] Amin AM,Epling W.Review of methane catalytic cracking for hydrogen production.Int J Hydrogen Energy2011;36:2904-35

[25] Ashik U,Abbas HF.Production of greenhouse gas free hydrogen by thermocatalytic decomposition of methane - a review.Renew Sustain Energy Rev2015;44:221-56

[26] Maneerung T,Kawi S.LaNiO₃ perovskite catalyst precursor for rapid decomposition of methane: influence of temperature and presence of H₂ in feed stream.Catalysis Today2011;171:24-35

[27] Takenaka S,Tanabe E.Methane decomposition into hydrogen and carbon nanofibers over supported Pd-Ni catalysts.J Catal2003;220:468-77

[28] Gallego G, Barrault J, Batiot-dupeyrat C, Mondragón F. Production of hydrogen and MWCNTs by methane decomposition over catalysts originated from LaNiO₃ perovskite.Catal Today2010;149:365-71

[29] Jiang S,Chan S,Khor K.(La_0.75Sr_0.25)(Cr_0.5Mn_0.5)O₃/YSZ composite anodes for methane oxidation reaction in solid oxide fuel cells.Solid State Ionics2006;177:149-57

[30] Jiang SP,Chan SH.GDC-impregnated (La_0.75Sr_0.25)(Cr_0.5Mn_0.5)O₃ anodes for direct utilization of methane in solid oxide fuel cells.J Electrochem Soc2006;153:A850

[31] Sfeir J,Möckli P.Lanthanum chromite based catalysts for oxidation of methane directly on SOFC anodes.J Catal2001;202:229-44

[32] Chen X,Khor K.High-performance (La,Sr)(Cr,Mn)O₃/(Gd,Ce)O_2-δ composite anode for direct oxidation of methane.J Power Sources2007;165:34-40

[33] Jiang SP,Zhang Y.Lanthanum strontium manganese chromite cathode and anode synthesized by gel-casting for solid oxide fuel cells.J Mater Chem2007;17:2627

[34] Li H,Xie K.Chromate cathode decorated with in-situ growth of copper nanocatalyst for high temperature carbon dioxide electrolysis.Int J Hydrogen Energy2014;39:20888-97

[35] Sun H,Huang X.Modification of LSCM structure by anchoring alloy nanoparticles for efficient CO₂ electrolysis.Energy Fuels2024;38:3436-44

[36] Jardiel T,Moser F,Gauthier G.New SOFC electrode materials: the Ni-substituted LSCM-based compounds (La_0.75Sr_0.25)(Cr_0.5Mn_0.5-xNix)O_3-δ and (La_0.75Sr_0.25)(Cr_0.5-xNixMn_0.5)O_3-δ.Solid State Ionics2010;181:894-901

[37] Carrillo AJ,Delgado-Galicia B.New trends in nanoparticle exsolution.Chem Commun2024;60:7987-8007

[38] Zhang L,Siang Cheng C.Synthesis and performance of (La_0.75Sr_0.25)_1-x(Cr_0.5Mn_0.5)O₃ cathode powders of solid oxide fuel cells by gel-casting technique.J Electrochem Soc2007;154:B577

[39] Zhang L,Jiang SP,Xiang Y.Characterization of doped La_0.7A_0.3Cr_0.5Mn_0.5O_3-δ (A=Ca, Sr, Ba) electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells.Solid State Ionics2009;180:1076-82

[40] Jiang SP,He HQ,Xiang Y.Synthesis and characterization of lanthanum silicate apatite by gel-casting route as electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells.J Power Sources2009;189:972-81

[41] Maneerung T,Kawi S.Co-production of hydrogen and carbon nanofibers from catalytic decomposition of methane over LaNi_(1-x)M_x O_3-α perovskite (where M=Co, Fe and X=0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1).Int J Hydrogen Energy2015;40:13399-411

[42] Duma ZG,Musyoka NM.Thermocatalytic decomposition of methane to low-carbon hydrogen using LaNi_1-xCu_xO₃ perovskite catalysts.Appl Catal A: Gen2024;677:119703

[43] Awadallah A,El-desouki D.Catalytic thermal decomposition of methane to CO_x-free hydrogen and carbon nanotubes over MgO supported bimetallic group VIII catalysts.Appl Surf Sci2014;296:100-7