Y2Ti2O7 pyrochlore supported nickel-based catalysts for hydrogen production by auto-thermal reforming of acetic acid

Hydrogen, as a clean and efficient alternative energy source, can be extracted from acetic acid (HAc), a bio-oil derivative from pyrolysis of renewable biomass. A series of Ni-Y-Ti-O catalysts were synthesized by the Pechini method and applied in auto -thermal reforming (ATR) of HAc for hydrogen production. The N10YT (15 wt% NiO, 75 wt% TiO2 and 10 wt% YO1.5) catalyst with Y2Ti2O7 pyrochlore structure presented high activity and stability with a HAc conversion rate at 100% and H2 yield near 2.62 mol-H2/mol-HAc, showing application potential for hydrogen production. Characteristics suggested that the improved activity can be attributed to formation of Y2Ti2O7 pyrochlore structure with intrinsic oxygen vacancies and interaction between Ni metal and support by means of (1) promoting of electron transfer from Y3+ to Ti4+ and Ni2+ species, (2) facilitating generation of oxygen vacancies and (3) restraining sintering of Ni0 and coking.