Method for Using Catalyst for Fuel Reformation in Methane Steam Reforming Reaction

A method for using a catalyst for fuel reformation in a methane steam reforming reaction, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a catalyst for fuel reformation, wherein said catalyst for fuel reformation is a honeycomb catalyst of Ni, La, and Ce comprising a honeycomb support substrate and an oxide catalyst of Ni, La, and Ce coated on said honeycomb support substrate, wherein said oxide catalyst of Ni, La, and Ce comprises an oxide layer of Ni and La and an oxide layer of Ce disposed between said honeycomb support substrate and said oxide layer of Ni and La, said oxide layer of Ni and La consists of 10˜20 weight percent (wt %) of Ni and 1˜20 wt % of rare earth element La, and said oxide layer of Ce consists of 1˜20 wt % of rare earth element Ce;
• (b) loading said honeycomb catalyst of Ni, La, and Ce into a methane gas reformer of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system, wherein Ni contained in said oxide layer of Ni and La exists in a form of nickel oxide (NiO) before said honeycomb catalyst of Ni, La, and Ce is used, and is not subjected to a pre-reduction treatment with external hydrogen or a reducing atmosphere before use;
• (c) introducing methane and water vapor into a reaction environment of said honeycomb catalyst of Ni, La, and Ce, enabling said nickel oxide to be reduced in-situ into metallic nickel nanoparticles during a methane steam reforming operation;
• and
• (d) during a continuous operation, promoting metal-support interaction between lanthanum oxide (La2O3) in said oxide layer of Ni and La, cerium oxide (CeO2) in said oxide layer of Ce, and alumina (Al2O3) in a composition of said honeycomb support substrate to generate a (La,Ce)AlO3 solid solution phase with a perovskite structure, wherein said formation of said (La,Ce)AlO3 solid solution phase facilitates stabilization of a structure of said catalyst and inhibition of migration and sintering of said metallic nickel nanoparticles, and wherein a formed CeAlO3 solid solution phase facilitates a reversible Ce4+/Ce3+ redox cycle to form oxygen vacancies, thereby providing oxygen transport channels to promote oxidative removal of carbon species deposited during reaction, and enhancing carbon deposition resistance and long-term operating durability of said catalyst.