Dynamics of the Cu/CeO2 catalyst during methanol steam reforming

Abstract

Supported Cu/CeO₂ catalysts with various loadings prepared by a deposition–precipitation method are thoroughly investigated with a series of in situ characterization techniques. The catalyst surface contains metallic Cu⁰ and interfacial sites, with the latter acting as the key active sites for the methanol steam reforming reaction. Moreover, the structures of both sites dynamically change in response to various environmental conditions. The Cu⁰ sites on larger Cu particles are more prone to oxidation than those on small ones, and the Cu–O_v–Ce interfacial sites are partially oxidized during the MSR reaction.