Catalytic walls and micro-devices for generating hydrogen by low temperature steam reforming of ethanol

Ethanol steam reforming (S/C=3) was effectively performed at low temperature over catalytic wall reactors comprising a wide range of channel dimensions, ranging from conventional monoliths (channel width of 0.9 mm) to semicylindrical microchannels (0.35 mm radius) and to silicon micromonoliths (channel diameter of 3-4 mu m). CO3O4 catalyst coatings were successfully prepared inside the channels from in situ thermal decomposition of two-dimensional layered cobalt hydroxide salts and showed a remarkable high homogeneity and mechanical stability. The Si-micromonolithic reactor proved extremely promising for hydrogen production for micro-fuel cell operation. Specific H-2 production rates exceeding 50 L-N of H-2 per mL of liquid and cm(3) of reactor were measured for ca. 42% ethanol conversion and residence times in the order of milliseconds. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.