Synthesis of Y2O3 nanocrystals and the effect of nanocrystalline Y2O3 supports on Ni/Y2O3 catalysts for oxidative steam reforming of ethanol

Y2O3 nanocrystals of tunable morphology and size have been successfully synthesized; the mobility of surface oxygen species on Y2O3 nanocrystals is found, for the first time, to increase with the decrease of the crystal size and to significantly affect the catalytic performances of Ni/Y2O3 catalysts for oxidative steam reforming of ethanol.