Hydrogen Production via Iso-Octane Steam Reforming over Ni–Cu/γ-Al₂O₃ Catalysts

Hydrogen production via catalytic steam reforming of hydrocarbons is a promising route for fuel cells and distributed energy systems. In this work, Ni–Cu/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared and evaluated for iso-octane steam reforming. The effects of catalyst composition and reaction temperature on activity and hydrogen yield were systematically studied. Results show that Cu incorporation significantly enhances catalytic stability and reduces carbon deposition. At 550 °C and a steam-to-carbon ratio of 2, the Ni₀.₅Cu₀.₅/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst achieved the highest hydrogen yield and conversion, outperforming monometallic Ni catalysts under identical conditions. This improvement is attributed to better metal dispersion and synergistic interactions between Ni and Cu. Compared with reported catalysts, the developed system exhibits competitive performance under moderate conditions, providing useful insights for designing efficient catalysts for hydrocarbon reforming.