Oxygen vacancy-enriched Ni-based CeO2 catalyst with unique haystack-like morphology for enhanced methane dry reforming performance

We synthesized a highly efficient Ni/CeO 2 -B catalyst with a unique Haystack-like morphology for DRM. • The haystack-like morphology of CeO 2 is responsible for enhanced oxygen mobility, Ni dispersion, and strong metal-support interactions. • The Ni/CeO 2 -B catalyst demonstrated remarkable CH 4 and CO 2 conversion rates. • The prepared catalyst maintained stable performance over 40 h of continuous operation. In this study, a unique Ni-based CeO 2 catalyst (Ni/CeO 2 -B) of haystack-like morphology was prepared for dry reforming of methane (DRM). The physicochemical properties of the synthesised catalysts were examined by FTIR, SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman spectra, XPS, BET, CO 2 -TPD, O 2 -TPO, ESR, TGA/DSC, and in situ DRIFT spectroscopy. The Ni/CeO₂-B catalyst exhibited a unique haystack-like morphology, resulting in high surface area, enhanced surface basicity, abundant oxygen vacancies, and improved Ni dispersion. The Ni/CeO₂-B catalyst exhibited excellent CO₂ and CH₄ conversions of 78% and 95%, respectively, at 800 °C, as well as excellent thermal stability for 40 h of operation. The Ni/CeO₂-B catalyst exhibited a high concentration of oxygen vacancies and enhanced basicity, which provide additional active sites for the adsorption and activation of CO₂ and CH₄ during the DRM. In situ DRIFTS spectra in combination with XPS, ESR, and catalytic results suggest that the redox-active Ni/CeO₂-B catalyst promotes CO₂ activation and improves anti-coking during DRM activity. In order to facilitate the scale-up of DRM technology, this study offers insightful information for the synthesis of advanced catalytic materials to improve syngas formation. Download: Download high-res image (420KB) Download: Download full-size image