Robust Ni/ZrO2 Catalysts for Highly Efficient and Stable CO Methanation: Effect of Interwoven Structure

Abstract

The design of Ni catalysts with anti-sintering and anti-coking properties remains challenging for CO methanation. The confinement of Ni nanoparticles by support is an effective method to achieve high activity and stability during the reaction. A series of Ni/ZrO2 catalysts with interwoven structure were designed and prepared by using Ni/UiO-66 composite as precursor after calcination and H2 reduction. The three-dimensional structures stabilize Ni nanoparticles and the voids in the interwoven structure on Ni/ZrO2 facilitates the removal of hot spot during the reaction. This interwoven structure on Ni/ZrO2 provides closer interface between Ni and ZrO2, contributing to an improved activity and stability for CO methanation. The results show that Ni/ZrO2-N presents 86% of CO conversion at 325 ℃ under 1 MPa with a space velocity of 15 000 mL·g-1·min-1 and stable activity and selectivity during 120 h test. The confinement effect through interwoven structure can be extended to anchor other metal nanoparticles for enhanced catalytic performance and stability.

Keywords

• co methanation
• ni catalyst
• interwoven structure
• confinement effect
• stability