High performance Ni exsolved and Cu added La0.8Ce0.2Mn0.6Ni0.4O3-based perovskites for ethanol steam reforming

La0.8Ce0.2Mn0.6Ni0.4O3 with (LCMN@CuO) and without (LCMN) CuO addition are prepared by solution methods, followed by reduction in 5% H2–N2 stream at 650 °C to form Ni exsolved and CuO reduced catalysts, LCMN@Ni and LCMN@Ni/Cu, for ethanol (EtOH) steam reforming (ESR). The catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM), temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy etc., and are evaluated for ESR with a steam/carbon ratio of 3 and a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 4 h−1 at temperatures between 500 and 700 °C. Ni exsolution and CuO reduction are confirmed on the substrates in LCMN@Ni and LCMN@Ni/Cu. Both the catalysts demonstrate a complete conversion of EtOH, forming mainly H2, CO2, CO and CH4. And increasing temperature to 700 °C increases the yields of H2 and CO to the levels about 90% and 40%, respectively, at the cost of CH4; and such performance remains unchanged for 30 h. These results indicate that both LCMN@Ni and LCMN@Ni/Cu are promising catalysts for ESR, the main difference between them is that the latter is more chemically stable and more resistant to carbon deposition under ESR conditions.