A-site deficient La1-xCr0.95Ru0.05O3-δ perovskites for N-hexadecane steam reforming: Effect of steam activation and active oxygen

Liquid fuels like diesel, biodiesel , and alcohols can be utilized for onboard hydrogen production in auxiliary power systems by steam reforming , in which hydrogen productivity and carbon deposition are key issues. A-site deficient La 1-x Cr 0.95 Ru 0.05 O 3 catalysts are prepared using the Glycine-nitrate method and characterized by multiple techniques. The catalyst with 20 % A-site deficiency exhibits about 95 % fuel conversion and stable performance over a 100 h continuous test at 750 °C and a steam/carbon ratio of 3.0 using n-hexadecane. However, the catalyst with a 10 % deficiency shows fluctuating fuel conversion with higher ethylene and ethane contents. Catalyst performance is mainly determined by active oxygen. The activation of steam on oxygen vacancies and Cr ions with variable valences could produce surface-free oxygen and freely migrating lattice oxygen respectively, which can react with CH x intermediates to form CO and H 2 .