Preparation of stable and highly active Ni/CeO2 catalysts by glow discharge plasma technique for glycerol steam reforming

CeO2 nanorods supported nickel catalysts were prepared by wetness impregnation method, using nickel nitrate and nickel chloride as nickel sources. The dried catalyst precursors were decomposed either by thermal calcination or glow discharge plasma technique. The effects of precursor decomposition methods and nickel sources on the catalytic performance of glycerol steam reforming were then investigated. Characterization and catalytic results showed that glow discharge plasma treatment instead of thermal calcination enhanced the nickel dispersion, improved the Ni-Ce interaction and led to the formation of Ni-O-Ce composite, which could both enhance the H-2 selectivity and restrain the coke deposition during reaction. Thus, no deactivation was observed on the two plasma treated catalysts throughout the tests. Nickel source may influence both rate of particle sintering and carbonaceous deposition during reaction; fast nickel sintering but slower coke deposition was found on the catalysts prepared from nickel chloride, and coke deposition was more detrimental to active sites decrease than nickel sintering.