Ni Particle Morphology and Support Effect in the Catalytic Decomposition of Methane: Into the Design of Novel, High Yield Catalyst for Catalytic Decomposition of Methane

Abstract

Research on high-surface-area supports and synergic promoters has been made, however, there is still much room for improvement on the catalytic-particles morphology and interaction with the support. A first approach for designing nanoplate supports to improve CDM catalysts was made. Amorphous aluminosilicates nanoplates (a-AS.np) with an average particle size of 23.4 nm and an average height of 2.8 nm, and α-Ni(OH)₂ nanoplates (Ni.np) with an average particle size of 23.2 nm and an average thickness of 8.4 nm, were successfully synthesized, using a two-dimensional reactor in amphiphilic phases (TRAP). Nickel loaded in a-AS materials with different morphologies and promotion effects of lantana (La³⁺) & chromium (Cr³⁺) species were studied. La-Cr promoted a-AS support showed an average increase of 13% on H₂ yield in severe conditions due to improved crystallization of Ni particles on mesoporous support and the electron promotion of La to Ni species. Furthermore, we evaluate the Ni.np as novel morphology support for La³⁺ & copper (Cu²⁺) species in the methane decomposition reaction. La-Cu Ni.np showed outstanding performance and stability, a max H₂ yield of 15.9% (at 700 °C), and more than 400 min of H₂ generation (at 550 °C) compared to its a-AS support counterparts.