Effect of boron on the surface properties of nickel supported on hydrotalcite-type mixed oxides in methanol decomposition

Abstract Methanol decomposition (MD) was studied over nickel supported over layered double oxides (LDO) and layered double oxides modified with B2O3 (B-LDO). Catalysts with nickel metal content ranging from 5 to 20 wt. % were synthesized by the impregnation method, and materials were characterized by atomic absorption, TGA, XRD, HRTEM, FTIR, and N2 physisorption. The catalytic properties in the MD reaction were studied in the 100−450 °C range. The conversion and selectivity were studied in a conventional flow reactor along with TPSR of methanol followed by GC-QMS. In-situ DRIFTS studied the evolution of adsorbed species. The adsorbed intermediates apparent higher reactivity (methoxy and formate) on boron-containing catalysts corroborated Ni/B-LDO catalysts improved activity. Overall, both nickel and boron modify the methanol interaction with the surface of Ni/B-LDO catalysts, improving its reactivity.