Silicon Nitride Supported Cobalt Catalyst for Enhanced Hydrogen Production from Ethanol Steam Reforming

Abstract

Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) supported cobalt catalysts (Co/Si₃N₄) were fabricated by using wetness impregnation procedure. The microscopic morphology, phase composition, and electronic states were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, and XPS, respectively. For comparison, cobalt catalyst supported on SiO₂ (Co/SiO₂) was also investigated. XPS studies and DFT calculations show that the cobalt species in Co/Si₃N₄ have lower valence state than those in Co/SiO₂. The catalytic ESR reactions demonstrate that Co/Si₃N₄ exhibits distinctly higher catalytic activity and hydrogen selectivity than Si₃N₄ support and Co/SiO₂ catalyst with the identical cobalt loading, indicative of the favorable effect of Si₃N₄ support on the catalytic performance of supported cobalt catalyst. Durability tests and TG-DSC studies show that Co/Si₃N₄ catalyst exhibits better stability and resistance to coke during the same catalytic experiment period.

Keywords

silicon nitride / supported cobalt catalyst / ethanol steam reforming reaction / hydrogen production

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