Enhanced catalytic performance of Ni/Al2O3 for the carbon dioxide reforming reaction by controlling the pore structure and Ni addition in catalyst design

Abstract

Carbon dioxide reforming (CDR) of methane is a promising technology for the production of hydrogen and the removal of greenhouse gases. However, deactivation of catalysts via carbon deposition and sintering remains a limitation for the commercialization of CDR reactions. In this study, Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared using different methods to investigate the effects of pore properties, as well as the interaction between Ni and supports, on the catalytic performance. Mesoporous and bimodal porous Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared to confirm the relationship between the pore properties and catalytic performance. The addition of Ni was controlled to determine the effect of the interaction between Ni and Al₂O₃ on the catalytic performance. Various techniques were applied to understand the pore and interaction properties of Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts prepared by different methods. The performance of Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts prepared by different preparation methods and their pore properties were analyzed at a CH₄/CO₂ ratio of 1.0, gas hourly space velocity of 900 000 mL g⁻¹ h⁻¹, and reaction temperature of 700 °C. The highest catalytic performance was demonstrated by the bimodal porous Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst, in which Ni was added after the calcination of the Al₂O₃ support. This result was owing to the high mass transfer due to the bimodal pore structure and proper interaction between Ni and Al₂O₃. This study will contribute to informing the importance of the pore structure and the addition of Ni for the development of catalysts that are both highly active and stable.