Structure-Activity Relationships of Nickel-Hexaaluminates in Reforming Reactions Part I: Controlling Nickel Nanoparticle Growth and Phase Formation

The controlled synthesis of hexaaluminates ANi(y)Al(12-y)O(19-) (A=Ba, La, Sr, and y=0.25, 0.5, 1) is reported by a freeze drying route. This route allows the use of moderate temperatures of approximately 1200 degrees C to obtain hexaaluminates of high phase purity (>80wt%) as well as high specific surface areas (10-30m(2)g(-1)). Under reducing conditions at elevated temperatures, nickel expulsion from the hexaaluminate framework can be observed. High stability of the crystalline phase is observed even if all substitution cations leave the hexaaluminate framework. The moderate calcination temperature of 1200 degrees C facilitates the reducibility of the Ni-hexaaluminates compared to Ni-hexaaluminates calcined at 1600 degrees C. SEM and TEM imaging revealed that Ni-hexaaluminates with low Ni loading (y=0.25) and calcined at moderate temperature (1200 degrees C) lead under reducing atmosphere to the formation of strong textural growth and highly disperse and highly textured Ni-0 nanoparticles. Nanoparticle growth is associated to surface defect sites occurring on the hexaaluminate platelets.