Collateral hydrogenation over proton-conducting Ni/BaZr0.85Y0.15O3−δ catalysts for promoting CO2 methanation

Abstract

Despite the importance of CO₂ methanation for eco-friendly carbon-neutral fuel recycling, the current technologies, relying on catalytic hydrogenation over metal-based catalysts, face technological and economical limitations. Herein, we employ the steam hydrogenation capability of proton conductors to achieve collateral CO₂ methanation over the Ni/BaZr_0.85Y_0.15O_3−δ catalyst, which is shown to outperform its conventional Ni/Al₂O₃ counterpart in terms of CH₄ yield (8% higher) and long-term stability (3% higher for 150 h) at 400 °C while exhibiting a CH₄ selectivity above 98%. Moreover, infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses reveal the appearance of distinct mobile proton-related OH bands during the methanation reaction.