Nickel-Based Ni–Ce1–xZrxO2 Catalysts Prepared by the Pechini Method for CO2 Methanation

Nickel-based Ni–Ce_{1 – x}Zr_xO₂ catalysts were prepared by the Pechini method. The catalyst performance in the CO₂ methanation reaction was studied. The catalysts exhibit high catalytic activity comparable to that of the commercial NIAP-07-05 catalyst of methanation. The catalysts were characterized by X‑ray diffraction methods with experiments using synchrotron radiation, and also by high-resolution electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The method for the preparation makes it possible to obtain fine nickel-containing particles formed during the decomposition of the Ni–Ce–Zr–O substitution solid solution obtained during the synthesis. Because of the decorating effect, however, the surface of nickel-containing particles is poorly accessible to reagents. For this reason, the Ni–Ce_{1 – x}Zr_xO₂ catalysts obtained by the Pechini method are less active than supported Ni/Ce_{1 – x}Zr_xO₂ catalysts.