Efficient hydrogen generation via steam reforming of ultra-stable emulsified hydrocarbon fuel catalyzed by NixPt1-x/Al2O3

Traditional steam reforming technology encounters two primary challenges: catalyst deactivation and fuel system instability, which limit its hydrogen production efficiency and potential applications. This work addresses these challenges through the concurrent development of novel catalysts and highly stable fuel emulsions. In this work, ultra-stable quasi-homogeneous “water + JP-10/RP-3” systems were formulated utilizing binary Span 80/Tween 80 emulsifiers. The alloy-structured Ni 0.93 Pt 0.07 /Al 2 O 3 catalyst was synthesized via stirred impregnation followed by annealing. The catalyst demonstrated superior reforming efficiency and resistance to coking: with exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene (JP-10，one of jet fuels) at 740 °C, a gas yield of 28.8 wt% and a hydrogen output of 4.68 mmol·g −1 were achieved alongside a consistent 20 % level of aromatic coke precursors. Furthermore, its capability with complex fuels was affirmed by reforming RP-3 aviation kerosene at 700 °C, which yielded 3.48 mmol·g −1 of H 2 . By combining steam reforming performance tests with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis, this study clarifies the dual synergistic effects that contribute to its exceptional performance: (1) Platinum-induced electron-rich nickel significantly decreases the adsorption energy of critical intermediates, hence improving the efficiency of C-H bond activation. (2) The Pt addition markedly diminishes carbon deposition by reducing the tendency of CH x * intermediates to undergo further dehydrogenation into carbonaceous deposits, facilitating their effective removal.