Promoting effects of Fe-Ni alloy on co-production of H2 and carbon nanotubes during steam reforming of biomass tar over Ni-Fe/α-Al2O3

Fe-modified Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalysts with Fe/Ni molar ratios of 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 were prepared to promote the co-production of H 2 and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) during steam reforming of toluene as a tar model compound. After the addition of Fe, toluene conversion increased from 55.1% of Ni/Al 2 O 3 to 73.6% of F1N1A (Fe/Ni ratio of 1), and H 2 yield over F1N1A reached the maximum of more than 2000 mmol/(g-cata). Multi-walled carbon nanotubes with average diameter of 10–30 nm were generated and follow tip-growth mechanism. Compared with Ni/Al 2 O 3 , the addition of Fe remarkably increased the amount and quality of CNTs which had longer length and less tortuosity. These dual promoting effects on H 2 and CNTs after the addition of Fe were attributed to the strong interaction between Ni and Fe in Fe-Ni alloy. Fe-Ni alloy had the high activity for the decomposition performance of toluene and H 2 O to generate more H 2 and intermediates for improving the reforming reaction. Meanwhile, the high catalytic decomposition activity supplied more carbon species and the formation of Fe-Ni alloy enhanced the generation of metal carbide for promoting CNTs growth. Besides, the deposition of amorphous carbon was suppressed and the interaction between Ni particle and catalyst support was weakened after the addition of Fe, which kept the activity of catalyst and promoted the tip-growth of CNTs.