Tailoring performance of Co–Pt/MgO–Al2O3 bimetallic aerogel catalyst for methane oxidative carbon dioxide reforming: Effect of Pt/Co ratio

Abstract

Co–Pt/MgO–Al2O3 bimetallic aerogel catalysts were synthesized via a sol-gel combined with supercritical drying method. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, HRTEM, STEM-HAADF, XPS, H2-TPR, H2-TPD, TG/DSC, FESEM and their catalytic performances in CH4 oxidative CO2 reforming were evaluated. The H2 spillover effect between Pt and Co enhanced the reducibility of the catalyst, while the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) effect in the bimetallic aerogel catalysts confined the agglomeration of metal particles. Pt/Co ratio played a key role on the existence of surface metal species, leading to different catalytic performances. The optimal Pt/Co ratio was Pt/Co = 0.02 w/w, on which a 50% higher activity in terms of CH4 conversion than monometallic Co or Pt aerogel catalysts was obtained. Whereas the impregnated catalyst with an identical composition showed a much lower activity. The Co–Pt aerogel catalysts also showed high resistance to inactive carbon formation. The oxidation temperature of the carbon species deposited on the spent Co–Pt aerogel catalyst was only 275 °C and no filamentous or graphitic carbon was identified, disclosing that the formation of inactive carbon was inhibited due to the synergy between Co and Pt and the SMSI effect.