Propane steam reforming over La0.8Sr0.2Ni1-yMyO3 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co) perovskite-type oxides

Perovskite-type oxides have attracted significant attention in recent years as potential catalysts for hydrocarbon reforming reactions. Herein, a series of oxides with the formula La0.8Sr0.2Ni1-yMyO3 (LSNi1-yMy; M=Cr, Mn, Fe, Co) have been synthesized and tested for the propane steam reforming (PSR) reaction. Materials were characterized employing BET, XRD, H-2-TPR, SEM/EDX, TEM/SAED and TPO techniques. Optimal results were obtained for LSNi0.5Cr0.5, which exhibited high propane conversion (78 %), H-2-selectivity (98 %), and excellent stability with time-on-stream (40 hours) at 600 degrees C. This has been attributed to the exceptional ability of LSNi0.5Cr0.5 to maintain its perovskite structure under reaction conditions, the in situ formation of finely dispersed Ni-Cr alloy crystallites, and the suppression of reactions that lead to graphitic carbon deposition. This study provides deeper insight into the effects of structural properties and reducibility of perovskite-type oxides on their catalytic properties and can be used to design catalysts with improved performance.