Personnel:

Nan Yi, Ph.D. Student

Education:
2005 to present  Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering, Tufts University
2005 M.S., Chemistry, Fudan University
2000 B.S., Chemical Engineering, Qingdao Institute of Chemical Technology

Research Interests:
Application of modified ceria based oxides to environmental catalysis

Project:
Steam Reforming of Methanol over Copper and Gold doped Ceria
Hydrogen is a potential solution to our energy needs, if it can be produced with reduction of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Methanol is a highly suitable liquid fuel for producing hydrogen, because of its high hydrogen/carbon ratio and ease of handling. Compared with other types of reforming processes, steam reforming of methanol (SRM), allows high hydrogen yield and high concentration of H₂ in the gaseous mixtures (up to 75%). Several studies have been reported in the literature on the applications of copper- and palladium-based catalysts for steam reforming of methanol and methanol synthesis reactions. Copper-containing catalysts possess high activity and selectivity at lower temperatures and, if suitably prepared, they may offer a low-cost option for large-scale application in the emerging markets of fuel cell micropower generators. Nanoscale Au- and Cu-ceria catalysts are being studied in our lab for this purpose. The work involves novel preparation conditions and mechanistic and structural investigations.

Publications:

1. W.-L. Deng, C. Carpenter, N. Yi, M. Flytzani-Stephanopoulos, Comparison of the activity of Au/CeO₂ and Au/Fe₂O₃ catalyst for CO oxidation and the water-gas shift reaction. Topics in Catalysis 44:199-208 (2007).
2. N. Yi, Y. Cao, Y. Su, W. –L. Dai, H. –Y. He, K. –N. Fan, Nanocrystalline LaCoO₃ perovskites confined in SBA-15 silica as new efficient catalysts for hydrocarbon oxidation. Journal of Catalysis 230:249-253 (2005).
3. N. Yi, Y. Cao, Y. –M. Liu, W. –L. Dai, K. –N. Fan, Highly efficient Ni-Ce-O mixed oxide catalysts via gel-coprecipitation of oxalate precursors for catalytic combustion of methane. Chemistry Letters 34:108-109 (2005).
4. Y. –M. Liu, Y. Cao, N. Yi, W. –L. Feng, W. –L. Dai, S. –R. Yan, H. –Y. He, K. –N. Fan, Vanadium oxide supported on mesoporous SBA-15 as highly selective catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. Journal of Catalysis 224:417-428 (2004).