New Powerful Catalysts for Autothermal Reforming of Hydrocarbons and Water-Gas Shift Reaction for On-board Hydrogen Generation in Automotive PEMFC Applications

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) systems are clean and efficient power sources for mobile applications. The required anode feed gas hydrogen can either be stored as such or generated on-board the vehicle. The on-board reforming of hydrocarbon fuels like gasoline, diesel or light naphtha to generate the required hydrogen is attractive due to the existing production and infrastructure. Lack of the latter is a drawback for the use of hydrogen or methanol as energy source. One focus of research and development at dmc² (Degussa Metals Catalysts Cerdec AG) is on catalyst systems for hydrogen generation and purification for mobile PEMFC applications, particularly for autothermal reforming (ATR) of gasoline and methane, and for water gas shift (WGS) reaction.

This paper reports on hydrogen productivity, selectivity, operational stability, and dynamic response upon load change of precious metal based catalysts for ATR and WGS reaction. The catalysts are supported on carriers like monoliths, foams or metallic substrates perfectly suitable for mobile applications, resulting in high specific activities to achieve high space-time yields.