Publication: Structure–Activity Relationships

Structure–Activity Relationships of Nickel–Hexaaluminates in Reforming Reactions Part I: Controlling Nickel Nanoparticle Growth and Phase Formation

Authors: T. Roussière, K.M. Schelkle, S. Titlbach, G. Wasserschaff, A. Milanov, G. Cox, E. Schwab, O. Deutschmann, L. Schulz, A. Jentys, J. Lercher, S.A. Schunk

ChemCatChem 2014, Volume 6, Issue 5, 1438 – 1446, article first published online: 24 March

The controlled synthesis of hexaaluminates ANi_yAl_12−yO_19−δ (A=Ba, La, Sr, and y=0.25, 0.5, 1) is reported by a freeze drying route. This route allows the use of moderate temperatures of approximately 1200 °C to obtain hexaaluminates of high phase purity (>80 wt %) as well as high specific surface areas (10–30 m² g⁻¹). Under reducing conditions at elevated temperatures, nickel expulsion from the hexaaluminate framework can be observed. High stability of the crystalline phase is observed even if all substitution cations leave the hexaaluminate framework. The moderate calcination temperature of 1200 °C facilitates the reducibility of the Ni–hexaaluminates compared to Ni–hexaaluminates calcined at 1600 °C. SEM and TEM imaging revealed that Ni–hexaaluminates with low Ni loading (y=0.25) and calcined at moderate temperature (1200 °C) lead under reducing atmosphere to the formation of strong textural growth and highly disperse and highly textured Ni⁰ nanoparticles. Nanoparticle growth is associated to surface defect sites occurring on the hexaaluminate platelets.