Nanostructured La0.8Sr0.2Fe0.8Cr0.2O3 Perovskite for the Steam Methane Reforming

This work describes the synthesis of La 0.8 Sr 0.2 Fe 0.8 Cr 0.2 O 3 perovskite using a polymerization chemical route, for application on steam methane reforming reaction, compared to the LaFeO 3 oxide. Results derived from X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the presence of a prevalent orthorhombic structure related with a nanostructured solid (15–33 nm). The methane conversion of La 0.8 Sr 0.2 Fe 0.8 Cr 0.2 O 3 oxide is very high compared to the LaFeO 3 oxide at 700 °C. The stability test was performed during 240 h, using the catalyst under similar reaction conditions and the deactivation was low. Post reaction analyses by TEM, XRD and TPO showed growth of crystallite sizes, absence of carbon deposition, but no structural modifications, which suggest that the promoters prevent carbon deposition and resist structure changes during the steam methane reforming reaction. Graphical Abstract