Layered perovskite-like La2−xCaxNiO4±δ derived catalysts for hydrogen production via auto-thermal reforming of acetic acid

Acetic acid from bio-oil is a renewable resource for hydrogen production. Layered perovskite-like Ca-doped LaCaNiO (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2) catalysts were prepared via a sol-gel method and tested in auto-thermal reforming (ATR) of acetic acid (AC) for hydrogen production. XRD, TPR, BET, XPS, TG, SEM and TEM characterization was carried out; the results show that the layered perovskite-like structure was the main phase in LaCaNiO with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, and La-Ca-O composite oxide species increased with increasing calcium content, while the reducibility of Ni metal was gradually enhanced as well. During the ATR process, LaOCO and CaCO species were generated and nickel particles were stable, suggesting that partial substitution of La by Ca in LaCaNiO was beneficial to stabilizing Ni particles with less coking. As a result, over the LaCaNiO catalyst, the AC conversion reached 100% and the hydrogen yield remained stable near 2.80 mol-H per mol-AC during the ATR test.