Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Tuning the Selectivity of Methanol Decomposition to Syngas Exploiting the Surface Stability of Ni3Sn2 Intermetallic Compounds

Mauri, Silvia LU ; Abdolrahimi, Maryam ; Douvalis, Alexios P. ; Talaee Shoar, Farzane ; Passuti, Sara ; Ronchese, Paolo ; Brollo, Maria Eugênia Fortes ; Ciancio, Regina ; Boukhvalov, Danil W. and Politano, Antonio , et al. (2026) In ACS Applied Energy Materials 9(9). p.5676-5684
Abstract

In this work, we explored the catalytic decomposition of methanol to syngas at 300 °C using intermetallic Ni3Sn2 nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized via a chemical route. Our study employed a comprehensive approach combining operando Ambient Pressure soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy with a suite of ex situ techniques─including X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy─and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Consistent with the behavior observed in Ni3Sn2 single crystals, we found that the Ni–Sn bonds stabilize the unique electronic structure of the intermetallic Ni active sites, even under strongly oxidizing conditions.... (More)

In this work, we explored the catalytic decomposition of methanol to syngas at 300 °C using intermetallic Ni3Sn2 nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized via a chemical route. Our study employed a comprehensive approach combining operando Ambient Pressure soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy with a suite of ex situ techniques─including X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy─and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Consistent with the behavior observed in Ni3Sn2 single crystals, we found that the Ni–Sn bonds stabilize the unique electronic structure of the intermetallic Ni active sites, even under strongly oxidizing conditions. Additionally, the nanoparticles exhibit a distinctive morphology characterized by a SnOx-rich protective shell, which further enhances the stability of the Ni sites. These stabilized sites enable the selective decomposition of CH3OH into H2 and CO while effectively suppressing coke formation, a major limitation of conventional metallic Ni catalysts, which are currently a benchmark for this reaction. Our findings suggest a promising strategy for the design of scalable, stable, and cost-effective Ni-based catalysts, unlocking the full potential of methanol as a liquid, portable hydrogen carrier.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and , et al. (More)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and (Less)
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
catalysis, green, Intermetallic, methanol, operando, spectroscopy, syngas
in
ACS Applied Energy Materials
volume
9
issue
9
pages
9 pages
publisher
The American Chemical Society (ACS)
external identifiers
  • pmid:42136881
  • scopus:105038466873
ISSN
2574-0962
DOI
10.1021/acsaem.6c00124
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9e9fac5f-4f1f-421c-a56d-e042afb85af4
date added to LUP
2026-08-13 16:01:03
date last changed
2026-08-27 16:59:36
@article{9e9fac5f-4f1f-421c-a56d-e042afb85af4,
  abstract     = {{<p>In this work, we explored the catalytic decomposition of methanol to syngas at 300 °C using intermetallic Ni<sub>3</sub>Sn<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized via a chemical route. Our study employed a comprehensive approach combining operando Ambient Pressure soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy with a suite of ex situ techniques─including X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy─and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Consistent with the behavior observed in Ni<sub>3</sub>Sn<sub>2</sub> single crystals, we found that the Ni–Sn bonds stabilize the unique electronic structure of the intermetallic Ni active sites, even under strongly oxidizing conditions. Additionally, the nanoparticles exhibit a distinctive morphology characterized by a SnO<sub>x</sub>-rich protective shell, which further enhances the stability of the Ni sites. These stabilized sites enable the selective decomposition of CH<sub>3</sub>OH into H<sub>2</sub> and CO while effectively suppressing coke formation, a major limitation of conventional metallic Ni catalysts, which are currently a benchmark for this reaction. Our findings suggest a promising strategy for the design of scalable, stable, and cost-effective Ni-based catalysts, unlocking the full potential of methanol as a liquid, portable hydrogen carrier.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mauri, Silvia and Abdolrahimi, Maryam and Douvalis, Alexios P. and Talaee Shoar, Farzane and Passuti, Sara and Ronchese, Paolo and Brollo, Maria Eugênia Fortes and Ciancio, Regina and Boukhvalov, Danil W. and Politano, Antonio and Peddis, Davide and Torelli, Piero}},
  issn         = {{2574-0962}},
  keywords     = {{catalysis; green; Intermetallic; methanol; operando; spectroscopy; syngas}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{5676--5684}},
  publisher    = {{The American Chemical Society (ACS)}},
  series       = {{ACS Applied Energy Materials}},
  title        = {{Tuning the Selectivity of Methanol Decomposition to Syngas Exploiting the Surface Stability of Ni<sub>3</sub>Sn<sub>2</sub> Intermetallic Compounds}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.6c00124}},
  doi          = {{10.1021/acsaem.6c00124}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}