Novel nanowire self-assembled hierarchical CeO2 microspheres loaded with nickel-based catalysts for hydrogen production from steam reforming of glycerol

The nickel-based catalysts with shape-specific CeO2 nanocrystals (hierarchical and spheres) and adjustable impregnation solvents were successfully synthesized. The synthesized Ni-CeO2 catalysts were used as the model catalyst to study the structure-dependent catalytic behavior and catalytic reaction mechanism for hydrogen production from glycerol steam reforming (GSR). Ni/CeO2-HE with the hierarchical structure and ethanol impregnation solvent obtained the strongest metal-support interaction. Electron effects because of the strong interaction between nickel and cerium dioxide promoted the formation of reducible nickel species. High nickel reduction and nickel dispersion contributed to the maximum active nickel exposure surface area, thus Ni/CeO2-HE exhibited superior glycerol conversion than other catalysts. The abundant oxygen vacancies generated due to strong Ni-CeO2 interaction facilitated the dissociation of water, thereby achieving a high yield of H2 for Ni/CeO2-HE. As a comparison, Ni/CeO2 and Ni/CeO2-E showed relatively poor catalytic activity due to lower exposed specific surface area and oxygen vacancy concentration. Moreover, the strong oxygen storage-release ability (CO-OSCC) promoted the oxidation of carbon deposition on Ni/CeO2-HE. As a result, Ni/CeO2-HE obtained good catalytic stability with no inactivation within 25 h. The study of the modulation role of Ni-CeO2 interaction on catalytic behavior can provide valuable guidelines for designing efficient catalysts for GSR. [Display omitted] •Nickel-ceria interaction modulated active nickel and oxygen vacancies.•Strong nickel-ceria interaction was achieved through hierarchical structure.•Dual-active interface sites of activated nickel and oxygen vacancy synergistically enhanced catalytic performance.