Catalytic Steam Reforming of Natural Gas over a New Ni Exsolved Ruddlesden‐Popper Manganite in SOFC Anode Conditions

Abstract The catalytic behavior of the new Ni exsolved Ruddlesden‐Popper (RP) manganite (La 1.5 Sr 1.5 Mn 1.5 Ni 0.5 O 7 ) for the reforming reaction was studied. The material was synthesized by the Pechini method and reduced to induce the formation of two phases: n=1 RP structure LaSrMnO 4 decorated with Ni nanoparticles. Ni impregnation on (La,Sr) 2 MnO 4 ceramic support of similar composition was also prepared for comparison. The catalytic measurements were carried out in a reduction‐reaction process with low steam to carbon content (S/C=0.15) at 700, 800 and 850 °C. The exsolved material exhibits a better performance than the impregnated for the methane steam reforming reaction, especially at 850 °C with higher conversion and H 2 production rate. However, in light alkane gas mixtures (CH 4 −C 2 H 6 and CH 4 −C 3 H 8 ), the behavior is affected due to the competition between reactions and low available metallic active sites, without affecting the H 2 production. The exceptional overall results considering this new material as a promising anode material in a SOFC fed with Colombian natural gas.