Efficient Hydrogen Production from Ethylene Glycol Steam Reforming Catalyzed by Na-Promoted Pt/γ-Mo₂N

Ethylene glycol (EG) derived from biomass and plastic wastes can serve as a sustainable H2 resource through steam reforming (HOCH2CH2OH + 2H2O ⇄ 5H2 + 2CO2). However, achieving high activity in H2 production with good selectivity toward CO2 under mild conditions poses a challenge. A thoughtful understanding of the active sites that accelerate the cleavage of the C–C bond rather than the C–O bond and the activation of the water molecule is still lacking. In this study, we developed a PtNa/γ-Mo2N catalyst that efficiently enables hydrogen production from ethylene glycol steam reforming (EGSR) reactions. This catalyst achieved outstanding H2 productivity, reaching 6000 molH2·molPt–1·h–1 at 250 °C under 10 bar with high CO2 selectivity (89%) and low CO selectivity (1%) in carbon-containing products. Comprehensive characterizations revealed the crucial role of the interface between highly dispersed Pt species and Mo2N in activating ethylene glycol and water. Additionally, sodium (Na) was found to block acidic sites, preventing the formation of side products from C–O bond cleavage, and to modulate Pt sites, enhancing the reforming process by accelerating the water gas shift reaction.