Synthesis and catalytic performance of Y2Ce2−xRuxO7(x=0∼0.4) on autothermal ethanol steam reforming reaction

Pyrochlore phases of Y₂Ce_2-xRu_xO₇ (x=0~0.4) solid solutions were prepared with the sol-gel process and used as catalysts for the autothermal steam reforming of ethanol (AESR). The as-prepared samples were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The oxidation state of Ru ions was confirmed by XPS and TPR analyses. Tests of catalytic activity showed that the reforming performance of Y₂Ce_2-xRu_xO₇ catalysts was affected by the Ru ion content. The optimized catalyst was Y₂Ce_1.6Ru_0.4O₇ with hydrogen selectivity S_H2 ~98% (autothermal temperature ~700°C and 100% ethanol conversion at C/O = 0.6).