Hydrogen generation from methanol reforming for fuel cell applications: A review

Methanol is regarded as an important liquid fuel for hydrogen storage, transportation, and in-situ generation due to its convenient conveyance, high energy density, and low conversion temperature. In this work, an overview of state-of-the-art investigations on methanol reforming is critically summarized, including the detailed introduction of methanol conversion pathways from the perspective of fuel cell applications, various advanced materials design for catalytic methanol conversion, as well as the development of steam methanol reformers. For the section of utilization pathways, reactions such as steam reforming of methanol, partial oxidation of methanol, oxidative steam reforming of methanol, and sorption-enhanced steam methanol reforming were elaborated; For the catalyst section, the strategies to enhance the catalytic activity and other comprehensive performances were summarized; For the reactor section, the newly designed steam methanol reformers were thoroughly described. This review will benefit researchers from both fundamental research and fuel cell applications in the field of catalyzing methanol to hydrogen.