Synergistic Effects of Ni–Cu Bimetallic Catalysts Supported on Gadolinium-Doped Ceria for Enhanced Hydrogen Production via Ethanol Steam Reforming

The development of efficient and stable catalysts for ethanol steam reforming (ESR) is critical for sustainable hydrogen production. In this study, a series of Ni–Cu bimetallic catalysts supported on Gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) were synthesized via the wet impregnation method to evaluate their performance in ESR. The catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, SEM-EDS, H2-TPR, and H2 chemisorption to correlate their physicochemical properties with catalytic activity. Experimental results demonstrate that the incorporation of a small amount of Cu into the Ni/GDC system significantly enhances the resistance to carbon deposition without compromising hydrogen production rates. Among the formulations tested, 7.5%Ni-2.5%Cu/GDC exhibited superior catalytic stability at 700 °C. H2-TPR analysis revealed that the presence of Cu facilitates the reduction of nickel species through a synergistic effect, while the GDC support provides high oxygen mobility, which promotes the gasification of surface carbonaceous species. This study provides valuable insights into the design of Ni–Cu bimetallic catalysts for mitigating coking and sintering in ESR processes, offering a robust catalyst formulation for industrial-scale hydrogen generation.