Carbide and nitride supported methanol steam reforming catalysts: Parallel synthesis and high throughput screening

A series of Mo2C and Mo2N supported catalysts have been synthesized using a parallel synthesis and high throughput screening approach. The high surface area Mo2C and Mo2N supports were prepared using temperature programmed reaction methods. Metals including Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ru, and Sn were impregnated onto these supports using a synthesis system. Methanol steam reforming (MSR) activities and selectivities for these materials were evaluated using a high throughput-screening reactor. The support type, metal type and concentration, and metal precursor type influenced the activity and selectivity patterns. Of more than 400 materials that were synthesized and evaluated, the Pt/Mo2N, Pt-Ni/Mo2N, Pt-Fe/Mo2N, and Pd-Fe/Mo2C catalysts possessed the highest activities. Some of these formulations were more active than a commercial Cu/Zn/Al2O3 catalyst, however, the CO2 selectivities were typically lower. At similar conversions, materials that were highly active were not selective while the less active materials were very selective. Many of the highly active catalysts included noble metals while the highly selective catalysts included base metals.