Photothermal catalytic dry reforming performance of methane over Ni-Co bimetallic spinel oxides: synergistic effects and structural tuning
XIONG Dan1, BAI Zhihao1, YU Shouwu1, MENG Xianguang2
1. College of Materials Science and Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China; 2. School of Physical Sciences, Great Bay University, Dongguan 523000, China
Abstract：Photothermal catalytic dry reforming of methane represents an efficient route for utilizing solar energy to drive the conversion of greenhouse gases CH4 and CO2 into syngas (H2 and CO). In this work, a series of NixCoyMgAlO (x=1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5; y=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) spinel oxide catalysts with varying Ni/Co molar ratios were synthesized via a co-precipitation method. The crystalline structure, oxygen vacancy concentration, micro-morphology, and redox properties of the catalysts were systematically analyzed by characterization methods such as SEM, EDS, XRD, and XPS. Their photothermal catalytic activity and stability in dry reforming of methane were evaluated, investigating the effect of the Ni/Co ratio on catalytic performance. The results indicate that the Ni0.5Co0.5MgAlO catalyst exhibits optimal performance, achieving CH4 and CO2 conversions of 59.6% and 65.3%, respectively, under photothermal conditions. Co doping effectively modulates the specific surface area, oxygen vacancy concentration, and metal-support interaction, leading to improved catalytic activity and enhanced resistance to carbon deposition. The synergistic effect between Ni and Co can facilitate electron transfer, strengthen the redox capability, promote oxygen species cycling, and optimize the activation of CH4 and CO2, thereby further enhancing the photothermal catalytic performance.
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