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Optimizing Ni−Fe−Ga alloys into Ni 2 FeGa for the Hydrogenation of CO 2 into Methanol
Author(s) -
Smitshuysen Thomas E. L.,
Nielsen Monia R.,
Pruessmann Tim,
Zimina Anna,
Sheppard Thomas L.,
Grunwaldt JanDierk,
Chorkendorff Ib,
Damsgaard Christian D.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.202000174
Subject(s) - catalysis , methanol , alloy , materials science , sintering , yield (engineering) , incipient wetness impregnation , ternary operation , nickel , gallium , selectivity , extended x ray absorption fine structure , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , metallurgy , chemistry , organic chemistry , absorption spectroscopy , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , engineering , programming language
A screening study of the catalytic performance of ternary alloy nanoparticles containing nickel, iron and gallium supported on silica for methanol synthesis from CO 2 and H 2 was performed. Catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and subsequently reduced in H 2 before catalytic testing. Ni 2 FeGa showed the best performance of the tested catalysts in terms of methanol yield. An optimization of the preparation was done to improve activity and selectivity, reaching a performance close to that of commercially available Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 /MgO at low reaction temperatures and pressure. Extensive in situ characterisation using environmental TEM, in situ XRD and in situ EXAFS of the formation of the Ni 2 FeGa catalyst explains an optimal reduction temperature of 550 °C: warm enough that the three atomic species will form an alloy while cold enough to prevent the catalyst from sintering during the formation.