Dual-interface structure in CuTiCeOx catalyst stabilizes reactive Cu+ species and oxygen vacancies for efficient methanol steam reforming

Methanol steam reforming (MSR) is promising for low-temperature H 2 production, yet Cu-based catalysts often deactivate under steam due to oxidation and sintering. Herein we develop a sol-gel-derived CuTiCe catalyst through dual-interface engineering that achieves both high MSR activity (complete methanol conversion and >99% CO 2 selectivity at 250 °C, with a H 2 productivity of 298 mmol∙g −1 cat ∙h −1 ) and durability (110 h time on stream), which outperforms single CuCe and CuTi samples. Comprehensive characterizations confirm that Ti incorporation drives Cu/Ti co-doping into lattice interstitial sites within CeO 2 and forms abundant Cu-O-Ti and Ti-O-Ce interfaces, significantly strengthening electronic metal-support interactions. Mechanistic research reveals that this dual interfacial structure stabilizes Cu + against oxidation and sintering, while boosting the desorption of water-dissociated species and avoiding oxygen vacancy refilling by ∙OH. This study provides an approach for tailoring the catalytic performance of Cu-based catalysts by multicomponent doping and interface engineering, paving the way for efficient and stable H 2 production.