Flame spray pyrolysis-designed silica/ceria-zirconia supports for the carbon dioxide reforming of methane

摘要

Graphical abstract Display Omitted Highlights ? Unique SiO2/Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 structures synthesised by FSP for methane dry reforming. ? Support composition and structure dictates properties of the silica/ceria-zirconia. ? Coupling silica with ceria-zirconia enhances Ni-based catalyst performance. Abstract Flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) was used to design silica/ceria-zirconia particles with assorted structures as Ni catalyst supports for the carbon dioxide reforming of methane. The FSP precursor feed was varied to produce either mixed-oxide or core-shell arrays. The structures exhibited diversity in their properties including surface area and oxygen storage capacity. NiO deposit size decreased with increasing ceria-zirconia content, from 14nm for the neat SiO2 to 5nm for the neat Ce0.7Zr0.3O2. Compared to the neat supports, the co-operative benefits of coupling the silica with the ceria-zirconia were clear. Introducing ceria-zirconia to the silica enabled the mixed supports to outperform the neat silica by supressing methane decomposition and promoting the dry reforming reaction. Introducing silica to the ceria-zirconia enabled the mixed supports to outperform the neat ceria-zirconia by decreasing susceptibility toward the reverse water gas shift reaction and preventing deactivation at 700°C, attributed to better support thermal stability. ]]>