Methane dry reforming catalyst prepared by the co-deflagration of high-nitrogen energetic complexes

Abstract

Methane dry reforming presents a unique opportunity to simultaneously consume both methane and carbon dioxide and generate from them clean-burning synthetic fuels for mobile energy applications. The industrialization of CH₄ dry reforming has been impeded mainly due to problems relating to the catalyst–support interface including sintering and carbon accumulation. Here, we present a new methodology, termed co-deflagration, for the synthesis of a stable supported catalyst for methane dry reforming. Co-deflagration utilizes the energy released during the decomposition of high-nitrogen energetic ligands bound to a metal atom. During co-deflagration, the metal atoms crystallize into the supported catalyst material. Here, we used the co-deflagration technique to synthesize Ni/La₂O₂CO₃ for use in methane dry reforming. We intended that the high thermal and kinetic energy imparted to La and Ni atoms during the energetic deflagration process would give rise to strong interfacial interaction between the catalyst and support and therefore stabilize catalytic activity. Ni/La₂O₂CO₃ synthesized using co-deflagration showed stable performance under CH₄ dry reforming conditions at elevated gas-hourly space velocities.