Hydrogen production from non-stationary catalytic cracking of methane:: a mechanistic study using in operando infrared spectroscopy

The cyclic two-step process of methane cracking was investigated over Pt/CeO2 catalyst at 400degreesC by in operando DRIFT spectroscopy. The production of H-2 by direct decomposition of CH4 on the noble metal is improved by the capacity of the cerium oxide to store carbonaceous surface species. The 2D-IR correlation analysis shows that formates adspecies are formed from carbonyls diffusing from Pt sites and reacting with hydroxyls on partially reduced Cc sites. The comparison with other catalysts indicates that formates are the most suitable adspecies for an efficient reversible C storage during the H-2 production cycle.