A highly dispersed and anti-coking Ni–La2O3/SiO2 catalyst for syngas production from dry carbon dioxide reforming of methane

Abstract

Syngas production from dry carbon dioxide reforming of methane was studied on a Ni/SiO₂ doped with La₂O₃ catalyst prepared via an in situ self-assembled core–shell precursor route. Highly dispersed nickel of particle size <3.0 nm on the Ni–La₂O₃/SiO₂ catalyst was successfully achieved. The addition of La₂O₃ enhanced the interaction between NiO and the silica support to form a more stable nickel silicate. The resulting Ni–La₂O₃/SiO₂ catalyst showed excellent catalytic activity and stability without any coking behaviour even after 100 hours of reaction on stream. In contrast, the Ni–La₂O₃/SiO₂ catalyst prepared using a conventional incipient wetness impregnation method exhibited poor catalytic activity and a high coke formation rate.