Synthesis of Highly-Dispersed Ni/Mesoporous Silica via an Ammonia Evaporation Method for Dry Reforming of Methane: Effect of the Ni Loadings

Mesoporous silica was used in conjunction with the ammonia evaporation method to prepare highly dispersed Ni catalysts for the dry reforming of methane (DRM). The effect of Ni dispersion on the catalytic performance was investigated by applying different Ni loadings. The pore structure, morphology, Ni dispersion, catalytic activity for DRM as well as the coke resistance were investigated. During the reaction at a relatively low temperature of 600 degrees C, all the three catalysts exhibited high stability in CH4 and CO2 conversion and excellent coke resistance, in comparison to Ni/SiO2 catalyst prepared by the incipient wetness method. Among them, 10% Ni-SiO2 exhibited the best catalytic performance with the maximum steady conversions of 62% and 69% for CH4 and CO2 at 600 degrees C, which was beneficial from its optimal Ni content and the presence of highly-dispersed metal nanoparticles confined in the mesopores.