Properties of Bulk In-Pt Intermetallic Compounds in Methanol Steam Reforming.

Heterogeneous catalysts are often complex materials containing different compounds. While this can lead to highly beneficial interfaces, it is difficult to identify the role of single components. In methanol steam reforming (MSR), the interplay between intermetallic compounds, supporting oxides and redox reactions leads to highly active and CO 2 -selective materials. Herein, the intrinsic catalytic properties of unsupported In 3 Pt 2 , In 2 Pt, and In 7 Pt 3 as model systems for Pt/In 2 O 3 -based catalytic materials in MSR are addressed. In 2 Pt was identified as the essential compound responsible for the reported excellent CO 2 -selectivity of 99.5 % at 300 °C in supported systems, showing a CO 2 -selectivity above 99 % even at 400 °C. Additionally, the partial oxidation of In 7 Pt 3 revealed that too much In 2 O 3 is detrimental for the catalytic properties. The study highlights the crucial role of intermetallic In-Pt compounds in Pt/In 2 O 3 materials with excellent CO 2 -selectivity.