A method for preparing a copper-containing catalyst is described comprising the steps of: (a) combining an acidic copper-containing solution with a first basic precipitant solution in a first precipitation step to form a first precipitate, (b) combining an acidic aluminium-containing solution, further comprising one or more metal compounds selected from copper compounds, zinc compounds and promoter compounds, with a second basic precipitant solution in a second precipitation step to form a second precipitate, (c) contacting the first and second precipitates together in a further mixing step to form a catalyst precursor, and (d) washing, drying and calcining the catalyst precursor to form the copper-containing catalyst, wherein a silica precursor is included in the first precipitation step, the second precipitation step or the precipitate mixing step, to provide a catalyst with a silica content, expressed as S102, in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 wt%.

Hydrogen-producing fuel processing systems and related methods. The systems include a hydrogen-producing region configured to produce a mixed gas stream from a feedstock stream, a hydrogen-separation membrane module having at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and configured to separate the mixed gas stream into a product hydrogen stream and a byproduct stream, and an oxidant delivery system configured to deliver an oxidant-containing stream to the hydrogen-separation membrane module in situ to increase hydrogen permeance of the hydrogen-selective membrane. The methods include operating a hydrogen-producing fuel processing system in a hydrogen-producing regime, and subsequently operating the hydrogen-producing fuel processing system in a restoration regime, in which an oxidant-containing stream is delivered to the hydrogen-separation membrane module in situ to expose the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane to the oxidant-containing stream to increase the hydrogen permeance of the at least one hydrogen-selective membrane.

Electrochemical cells for the production of hydrogen from liquid fuels and methods of operating the cells to produce hydrogen and electricity are provided. The electrochemical cells are solid state cells that incorporate a thermochemical conversion catalyst and a hydrogen oxidation catalyst into the anode and utilize solid acid electrolytes. This cell design integrates thermally driven chemical conversion of a starting fuel with electrochemical removal of hydrogen from the conversion reaction zone.

A system is disclosed. The system can store a fuel reagent such as methanol for conversion into hydrogen to power one or more facility systems via a backup power system. A reactor controller can monitor a power demand of the one or more facility systems and determine whether the power demand is met by a primary power system. The fuel reagent can be provided to a fuel reactor in response to the reactor controller determining that the one or more facility systems are operating at a power deficit to generate an amount of hydrogen that, when provided to the backup power system, causes the backup power system to generate an amount of power that meets or exceeds the power deficit.

A solar-driven methanol reforming system for hydrogen production includes a water storage tank, high-temperature solar collector tubes, a thermocouple, valves, preheaters, an evaporator, a reactor, a heat exchanger, a mixed solution (methanol and water) storage tank, a gas separator, a pump, a carbon dioxide storage tank, a hydrogen storage tank, and pipes; the present invention utilizes solar energy to provide heat required for hydrogen production by methanol reforming, and stores some heat in a phase change material to supply heat for the methanol reforming reaction when sunlight is weak; the system does not need additional energy supply, thus saving energy consumption from traditional electric heating or fuel heating.

The present invention provides a heterojunction photocatalyst having higher photocatalytic activity than that of a conventional heterojunction photocatalyst. Further, the present invention provides a photocatalyst composite having the heterojunction photocatalyst on a substrate, a method for producing the heterojunction photocatalyst, and a method for producing hydrogen using the heterojunction photocatalyst or the photocatalyst composite The het junction photocatalyst of the present invention has a solid mediator between a hydrogen-evolution photocatalyst and an oxygen-evolution photocatalyst, and the solid mediator is selectively joined to an electrons collecting surface of the oxygen-evolution photocatalyst.

Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components, and methods of manufacturing those assemblies, devices, and components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include an insulation base having insulating material and at least one passage that extends through the insulating material. In some embodiments, the at least one passage may be in fluid communication with a combustion region.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out the methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction of a feedstock comprising methanol to synthesis gas are provided, where the heat for the endothermic methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction is provided by resistance heating.

A catalyst composition includes a liquid metal alloy having a melting point from about 20° C. to about 25° C., the liquid metal alloy including a primary metal and a secondary metal, the primary metal being aluminum and the secondary metal is selected from the group consisting of gallium, indium, and bismuth.

It is provided solid, heterogeneous catalysts and a method for producing H.sub.2 by steam reforming. More particularly, the catalyst comprises at least one metal element of Cu, Ni, Fe, Co, Mo, Mn, Mg, Zr, La, Ce, Ti, Zn and W, having a formula Cu.sub.aNi.sub.bFe.sub.c-Co.sub.dMO.sub.eMn.sub.fMg.sub.gZr.sub.hLa.sub.iCe.sub.jTi.sub.kZn.sub.lW.sub.mO.sub.x, wherein a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, I and m are molar ratios for the respective elements, wherein a, b, c, d, e, f, g and m are >0, h, I, j, k and I are >0 or a, b, c, d, e, f, g, i, and j are ≥0, h, k, I and m are >0 and x is such that the catalyst is electrically neutral. The produced H.sub.2 can be used to powered vehicle as described herein.