Synthesis of cubic and hexagonal ZnTiO3 as catalyst support in steam reforming of methanol: Study of physical and chemical properties of copper catalysts on the H2 and CO selectivity and coke formation

Performance of cubic and hexagonal phases of ZnTiO3 as catalyst supports were studied in steam reforming of methanol and the obtained data were compared with TiO2 and ZnO supports. The ZnTiO3 phases were synthesized with the sol-gel method in low temperature and copper (as the active metal) was deposited on the surface of the ZnTiO3 nanoparticles with incipient wetness impregnation method. The Cu/cubic-ZnTiO3 catalyst exhibits high activity, selectivity and low coke formation in this reaction. This high activity is associated with the development of low-moderate acid sites in the cubic sample. Also, inappropriate byproducts such as carbon monoxide were not detected in the Cu/cubic-ZnTiO3 catalyst, which are related to the oxygen vacancy defects and acid sites on the cubic-ZnTiO3 surface. Consequently, our findings prove that the Cu/cubic-ZnTiO3 catalyst has commercial (inexpensive raw materials) and industrial (high conversion and selectivity) advantages. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.