Hydrogen generation by methanol steam reforming process by delafossite-type CuYO2 nanopowder catalyst

Due to global warming, the energy crisis, and climate change, hydrogen is to be used as an alternate renewable energy source. In industry, hydrogen generation is mainly obtained by the natural gas steam reforming reaction. In this study, delafossite CuYO2 nanopowder was used as a catalyst for methanol steam reforming (MSR). The delafossite-structured CuYO2 nanopowder was synthesized by the glycine nitrate process, annealed in N-2, and used for MSR. The influences of different annealing temperatures on the phase transformation, surface area, and crystal structure composition of the Cu-Y-O powder were examined. The characteristics of the CuYO2 nanopowder were identified by X-ray diffraction studies, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller studies (BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy studies, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The BET studies indicated that the surface area of the CuYO2 nanopowder varied from 2 to 16 m(2)/g before and after annealing at different temperatures because of structural transformation. Scanning electron microscopy of the CuYO2 nanopowder revealed a porous structure formed by the large amount of gas released during the glycine-nitrate process. Moreover, when the self-combusted nanopowder was annealed in N-2 at 750 degrees C, the porous structure of the CuYO2 nanopowder was retained. The CuYO2 catalyst in MSR performance was estimated, and the hydrogen generation rate reached as high as 1735.65 ml STP min(-1)g-cat(-1) at 300 degrees C without reduction treatment. Besides, the CuYO2 catalyst exhibit a higher hydrogen production rate at a lower temperature. The hydrogen generation performance of this CuYO2 catalyst could be of great importance in industry and have a global economic impact.