Tuning Metal-Support Interaction and Oxygen Vacancies of Ceria Supported Nickel Catalysts by Tb Doping for n-Dodecane Steam Reforming

Catalytic steam reforming of long-chain hydrocarbons has drawn great attention for hydrogen production, which can be used for on-board/on-site fuel cell or hypersonic vehicle thermal protection. Herein, solid oxides of Tb-doped ceria support Ni with high activity and stability for steam reforming of n-dodecane have been developed using a citric-acid-assisted sol-gel method. High hydrogen production rate of 4800 µmol/min was achieved at 600 °C under water to carbon ratio of 2 and LHSV of 10 ml/gcat·h. The improved performance of n-dodecane steam reforming by Tb doping are ascribed to the moderate interaction between metal and support, highly dispersed of Ni, increased basicity sites and abundant surface oxygen vacancies.