CO₂ Reforming: Transition metal-based SiO₂-Ni@CeO₂ catalyst with typical core@shell structure exhibited the better activity/stability in CO₂ reforming with ethanol reaction compared to SiO₂-Cu@CeO₂ sample.

Abstract

It is of great significance to design the high-performance catalysts with good anti-sintering and coke-resistance properties which can efficiently convert undesirable greenhouse gas CO₂ with bio-ethanol into high value-added syngas. To be addressed this issue, a series of SiO₂-M@CeO₂ (M: Cu, Ni) catalysts with typical core@shell structure were prepared via a strong electrostatic adsorption technique. Interestingly, Ni-based catalyst exhibited the higher activity towards ethanol dry reforming at the relatively low temperature. Meanwhile, SiO₂-Ni@CeO₂ catalyst presented good stability after a 50 h tests while a serious deactivation occurred for SiO₂-Cu@CeO₂ within 20 h reaction due to heavy carbon deposition and reactor blockage. Herein, the higher catalytic performance of SiO₂-Ni@CeO₂ catalyst compared to SiO₂-Cu@CeO₂ sample was attributed to the combination effect of its mesoporous structure, higher Ni dispersion as well as stronger Ni-Ce interaction as depicted by BET, TEM, XPS, H₂-TPR and XRD findings. This work might provide meaningful information to other reforming processes involving coke formation and active metal sintering problems.