Impact of preparation methods on Pt/Layered Double Hydroxides (MgAl, NiAl, and NiMgAl) for enhancing ethanol photoreforming

This study investigated the synthesis and performance of Pt-loaded Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) catalysts, specifically MgAl-LDH, NiAl-LDH, and NiMgAl-LDH, prepared via hydrothermal and microwave-assisted coprecipitation methods. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis DRS, SEM, and N₂ physisorption to analyze their structural, optical, and electronic properties. Photocatalytic hydrogen production from ethanol photoreforming was performed in a semi-continuous system irradiated with UV light, and the product analysis was conducted using mass spectrometry. While the pure LDHs showed limited catalytic activity, platinum-impregnated LDHs significantly improved hydrogen production. Among the catalysts, Pt/NiAl-LDH showed the highest hydrogen production at 2.165 mmol H₂/g, demonstrating the potential of Pt-LDH catalysts for effective photocatalytic hydrogen generation.