Entropy value regulation of lanthanide perovskite catalysts: Unlocking the performance code of methanol reforming for hydrogen production

Hydrogen energy plays a pivotal role in the sustainable energy transition. Methanol steam reforming offers an efficient route for decentralized hydrogen production, yet catalyst limitations persist. This work employs entropy engineering to design lanthanide perovskite catalysts via sol-gel synthesis. Structural analyses reveal entropy-driven lattice distortion, enhanced disorder, and elevated oxygen vacancies. The high-entropy catalyst exhibits complete methanol conversion, over 94 % hydrogen selectivity, and maintains stability for 50 h at 600 °C. Mechanistic insights demonstrate that entropy-induced lattice distortion and multi-element synergy collectively reduce methanol dissociation barriers by 32 % and steer reaction pathways. This study elucidates the intrinsic mechanisms through which entropy engineering enhances catalytic performance, establishing design principles for high-performance and durable perovskite catalysts. These findings provide critical theoretical foundations for advancing the industrial-scale implementation of methanol-reforming hydrogen production technologies.