Lewis acid–redox synergy in V–Ni catalysts for DME steam reforming

This study explores dimethyl ether (DME) as a renewable energy carrier for hydrogen production via steam reforming over V–Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts. The results demonstrate that catalytic performance is governed by the interplay between Lewis acidic vanadium centers and redox-active nickel species, which together control DME activation and subsequent reforming steps.

In V-rich systems, DME hydrolysis on Lewis acid sites is identified as the rate-determining step, followed by efficient hydrogen and CO₂ formation over metallic centers. Optimized catalysts achieve near-complete DME conversion above 673 K, with high selectivity toward H₂ and CO₂ and suppressed methane formation, delivering H₂/CO₂ ratios close to the ideal value.

These findings highlight the importance of tuning acid–redox properties in multicomponent catalysts for efficient hydrogen production from alternative fuels.

Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.129996

The authors acknowledge the National Science Centre Poland for funding through project SONATA-2013/11/D/ST5/03007 ‘Second generation of biofuel and near future alternative fuels - development of stable, selective and highly active for steam reforming process’ awarded to I.S.P with connected contracting agreement 2012/10/11 for “DME process and material development’ given to C.H., M.L., L.A., and SONATA scholarship contracts no. 2014/12/15 and 2015/06/01 given to R.G.G. C.H., M.L., L.A. gratefully acknowledge the contract no. 20170000000000998 ‘Development and characterization of advanced catalytic materials’ trough Reintegration FNP 2016/1-5 ‘Waste into fuel - catalyst and process development for waste biomass valorization’. The UBA is acknowledged for TPR.