Cu/CuOx Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Carbon as a Catalyst for Aqueous-Phase Reforming of Methanol

Aqueous-phase reforming of methanol (APRM) stands out as a viable approach for providing hydrogen to polymer electrolyte fuel cells, offering advantages over traditional gas-phase methodologies conducted at relatively high temperatures. Nevertheless, the development of an effective and hydrothermally stable non-noble-metal catalyst remains a formidable challenge. This paper presents a series of resilient and efficient Cu/CuOx/C catalysts synthesized by encapsulating Cu/CuOx nanoparticles (NPs) within a carbon matrix, utilizing Cu-BTC as a precursor. The Cu-CuOx/C-700 catalyst, in particular, demonstrates a remarkable hydrogen evolution rate of 33.7 μmol·gcat−1·s−1 at 210 °C, significantly surpassing that of conventional catalysts. The exceptional stability of the Cu/CuOx/C catalysts can be ascribed to the protective carbon coating, which enhances the interaction between the Cu/CuOx NPs and the support and primarily inhibits the aggregation of copper nanoparticles under harsh aqueous reaction conditions. The reused catalysts were explored through XRD and ICP-OES analyses, which indicated that the structural integrity of the Cu-CuOx/C catalysts is largely preserved.