Synthesis of mesoporous Ni–La2O3/SiO2 by ploy(ethylene glycol)-assisted sol-gel route as highly efficient catalysts for dry reforming of methane with a H2/CO ratio of unity

Abstract

Mesoporous silica-supported Ni–La oxides with homogeneously-dispersed NiO nanoparticles were first synthesized via one-pot sol-gel route of tetraethoxysilane, metal nitrates, and poly(ethylene glycol). Upon reduction with H2, the NiO nanoparticles were reduced to in situ generate metallic Ni particles distributed in the matrices. The obtained Ni-La2O3/SiO2 catalysts exhibited high activity and excellent stability for DRM with an almost 100% H2 selectivity or a H2/CO molar ratio of unity. The presence of La significantly inhibited the reverse water gas shift reaction, resulting in a H2/CO ratio close to unity.