Methanol reforming by nanostructured Pd/Sm-doped ceria catalysts

[Display omitted] •Pd/Sm-Doped Ceria (SDC) catalysts prepared with high purity, nanostructured supports.•Highly dispersed Pd achieved in catalysts made by impregnation of pre-prepared SDC.•Catalyst activities interpreted in terms of nanostructure-performance relationships.•Impregnation from Pd(NO3)3 resulted in the most active methanol reforming catalysts.•Methanol conversions and H2 yields of up to 97.4 % and 236 %, respectively, achieved. Catalysts of 2 wt% Pd/Sm-doped Ceria (SDC) were prepared and evaluated for hydrogen production by methanol reforming. Three preparation methods were used: a one-step method in which formation of the SDC phase and Pd incorporation took place in a single citrate-complexation process (Method A); impregnation of pre-prepared SDC nanopowder supports using Pd(NO3)2 solution (Method B); and impregnation of pre-prepared SDC from H2PdCl4 solution (Method C). Both methanol conversion and hydrogen yield increased as: bare supports