Novel highly active Ni–Re super-alloy nanowire type catalysts for CO-free hydrogen generation from steam methane reforming

Novel Ni–Re super-alloy nanowire type catalyst system is found for hydrogen generation from steam methane reforming. The novel nanowire type catalysts exhibit the super-high catalytic activity for hydrogen generation from steam methane reforming with CO-free in the product at lower reaction temperatures. The Ni–Re alloy nanowire type catalysts are active for converting methane and water to hydrogen and carbon dioxide at a low reaction temperature of about 623 K, which is about 200 K lower than that is needed for steam methane reforming on the conventional catalysts. The CO-free hydrogen is efficiently generated from steam methane reforming on the nanowire type catalysts at the lower reaction temperatures, in which water–gas shift reaction step is not needed for CO-free hydrogen production. (author)