Elucidating dynamical atomic scale structural changes of ZnPd/ZnO methanolsteam reforming catalysts

甲醇蒸汽重整是未来以甲醇为基础的能源经济中为燃料电池提供氢的重要反应。抑制CO的形成是最大的挑战之一。在这方面，ZnPd / ZnO催化剂是非常有前途的，因为它们结合了高选择性（低CO生成）和高稳定性。该催化剂体系的性能，特别是其高选择性关键取决于微观结构和元素分布。特别是，金属间ZnPd相中富钯区和贫钯区的分布对于富锌区的形成和材料的高选择性至关重要。由于甲醇蒸汽重整过程中的高结构动力学，可靠的结构-性能关系只能通过将operando研究与原子分辨率和催化测试相结合来建立，两者都是在广泛的参数领域。本项目的目的是在反应和材料参数方面确定ZnPd / ZnO的催化性能，在电子显微镜下记录操作条件下的动态微观结构变化，并通过将催化和结构/形态研究结果联系起来，得出可靠的结构-性能关系。

Methanol steam reforming is an important reaction to provide hydrogen for fuel cell applications in a future methanol-based energy economy. The suppression of CO formation is one of the biggest challenges. In this regard, ZnPd / ZnO catalysts are very promising because they combine high selectivity (low CO formation) and high stability.The properties of this catalyst system and in particular its high selectivity depend crucially on the microstructure and elemental distribution. In particular, the distribution of Pd-rich and Pd-poor regions in the intermetallic ZnPd phase is critical for the formation of ZnO-rich regions and thus to the high selectivity of the material. Due to the high structural dynamics during methanol steam reforming, reliable structure-property relationships can only be established by combining operando investigations with atomic resolution and catalytic tests, both in a broad parameter field.The objectives of this project are to determine the catalytic properties of ZnPd / ZnO in terms of reaction and material parameters, to record the dynamic microstructure change under operando conditions in the electron microscope and to derive reliable structure-property relationships by linking the results from the catalytic and structural / morphological investigations.