Ultralow temperature steam reforming of methane with novel catalytic system in an electric field

We investigated novel catalytic reaction system which was activated by an electric field. These catalytic systems showed very high activity compared to conventional catalytic reaction systems, and it works at ultra-low temperature. As for the steam reforming of methane, although Pt supported on CeO2 catalyst without an electric field showed no activity at 423 K, the addition of an electric field to the catalyst promoted the reaction, and higher conversion of methane was observed at the same temperature. Pt/CeO2 catalyst was activated by the electric field and synergetic effect of Pt catalyst and electric field was observed. All the carbon atoms reacted were converted into carbon dioxide via water gas shift. At such low temperature, thermodynamic equilibrium is far from such high methane conversion. Catalytic reactions in an electric field proceed under mild conditions and show a quick response. This novel hybrid system seems to be a promising fuel processing catalytic system at low temperature.