Promoting Effect of Ce Doping on the CuZn/ZnAl2O4 Catalysts for Methanol Decomposition to Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide

A series of CuZn/xCe-ZnAl 2 O 4 catalysts (CZ/xCe-ZAO) with different contents of Ce doping (x = 0, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) were prepared by precipitation. The samples were applied for the hydrogenation production from methanol decomposition. Ce doping was found to effectively improve the reaction activity of the catalysts. CZ/5Ce-ZAO exhibits 100.0% methanol conversion and selectivity to hydrogenation of 98.9% at 300 °C (WHSV = 1.5 h −1 ), which is superior to those of the comparison catalysts. Moreover, the TOF for CZ/5Ce-ZAO increased by 54.7% compared with the pristine sample without Ce doping. In addition, CZ/5Ce-ZAO showed significantly improved stability compared with that of the un-doped catalysts. The obtained catalysts were systematically characterized by N 2 sorption, XRD, H 2 -TPR, XPS, TEM, N 2 O-TPD, TG–DTA. The results suggested that stronger metal-support interaction (SMSI) existed in the Ce doped samples increased the dispersion of Cu species, which was responsible for the outstanding catalytic performance. Besides, such SMSI was also helpful for inhibiting the sintering of the copper species during the reaction and enhancing stability. Graphic Abstract CZ/5Ce-ZnAl 2 O 4 shows significantly improved stability compared with the undoped and commercial catalysts.