Plasma assisted preparation of cobalt catalysts by sol–gel method for methane combustion

Novel cobalt catalysts were prepared by sol–gel method, and enhanced by plasma treatment, for methane catalytic combustion. These samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelactron spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetrical analysis, N2 Adsorption–desorption, temperature-programmed reduction and hydrogen–oxygen titration technologies. The XPS characterizations suggested that plasma treatment was favorable for the enrichment of surface cobalt, with a value of surface cobalt from 2.2% to 8.5% in mole. The specific surface area of the glow plasma assised sample (Co-Plas-Solgel-2) increased to 320 m2/g comparing with 305 m2/g of the conventional sample (Co-Solgel-1). The ignition temperature (T10%) of Co-Plas-Solgel-2 catalyst was about 50 °C lower than that of Co-Solgel-1, and its CH4 conversion was two times higher than that of Co-Solgel-1 during the whole range of catalytic combustion activity test (340–520 °C). With a better dispersion and more active sites, the plasma assisted sample exhibited significant enhancement in catalytic performances.