PdZn catalysts prepared by washcoating microstructured reactors

• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2004.04.037
• Publication Date: 2004-06-08T18:49:43Z
• Authors: P. Pfeifer; K. Schubert; M.A. Liauw; G. Emig
• Keywords: Chemisorption; Microreactor

Abstract Methanol steam reforming is an option for dynamic hydrogen generation in automotive fuel cell systems. Microstructured reactors with small channels ( 100 μm ×100 μm ) are being studied. A washcoating procedure applying dispersed ZnO nanoparticles to the microchannel walls was adapted to the PdZn catalyst system. The catalyst layer showed no significant differences during X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed oxidation and reduction experiments for examination of oxidation state and alloy formation compared with other PdZn systems reported in the literature. Chemisorption with different adsorbates and X-ray backscattering were used for gathering detailed information on PdZn dispersion, diameter and shape with respect to the preparation parameters. Catalytic experiments yielded a relationship between the catalyst properties and the catalytic activity, degradation and secondary reactions.