Rh/Ce0.25Zr0.75O2 Catalyst for Steam Reforming of Propane at Low Temperature

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) show high energy-conversion efficiency and thus emit less CO2 than conventional combustion engines. Although SOFCs can directly convert hydrocarbons such as liquefied petroleum gas, these fuels readily induce coking on the electrodes of fuel cell stacks. To avoid coking, hydrocarbons can be subjected to a preliminary endothermic steam-reforming step at a relatively low temperature using waste heat from the stack. Herein, we report that a Rh/Ce0.25Zr0.75O2 catalyst exhibited higher propane-steam-reforming activity than other Rh/Ce1-xZrxO2 catalysts and Rh/gamma-Al2O3. Catalyst characterization revealed that Rh/Ce0.25Zr0.75O2 had excellent redox property and high H2O-adsorption activity, which contributed to the activation of steam and thus enhanced the propane-steam-reforming activity of this catalyst.