Aqueous Phase Methanol Reforming Catalyzed by Fe–Cu Alloy Nanoparticles Wrapped on Nitrogen-Doped Graphene

Small Fe–Cu nanoparticles (NPs) (about 1 nm) supported at a high loading (over 10 wt %) on N-doped graphitic carbon have been prepared in single pyrolytic step from chitosan adsorbing Cu2+ and Fe2+ salts. The presence of N atoms appears to be crucial the formation small-sized metallic NPs. Interactions between Fe Cu are reflected by shift binding energy higher (Fe) or lower (Cu) values H2 thermo-programmed reduction measurements, showing new peak intermediate temperature (375 °C) that (175 (450 °C). NPs embedded within matrix extremely active (TOF 315 h–1) selective (no CO detected) catalysts for methanol reforming aqueous phase with stoichiometric H2O amounts CO2. results achieved compare favorably those reported literature based Pt, Pd, Ru.