Insights into Cu–Amorphous Silica–Alumina as a Bifunctional Catalyst for the Steam Reforming of Dimethyl Ether

The steam reforming of dimethyl ether (SRD) has been proved to be one the most promising routes for on-site H2 production. However, two-step consecutive nature SRD reaction makes design an efficient bifunctional catalyst a challenge. Herein, series Cu incorporated into amorphous silica–alumina (Cu–ASA) as integrated catalysts were synthesized by single-step complex decomposition method, and ammonium carbonate was confirmed effective agent dispersing in ASA. results indicated that initial conversion yield higher than 90% achieved at 300 °C over optimal catalyst. More importantly, slightly decreased performance with increasing time-on-stream mainly caused sintering, synergetic effect between ASA played crucial role determining activity, hydrogen yield, stability Cu–ASA SRD. These findings are helpful develop high-performance reaction.