Facile template-free synthesis of Ni-SiO2 catalyst with excellent sintering- and coking-resistance for dry reforming of methane

Abstract Ni-SiO2 catalysts were synthesized by facile template-free hydrothermal method with ammonia-assisted via using low-cost silica sol as precursor and successfully employed to dry reforming of methane reaction. It was found that ultra-small Ni nanoparticles around 3.2 nm rationally obtained with high dispersion. The strong metal-support interaction generated from the in-situ ammonia-assisted process further stabilized the Ni species during the DRM reaction. Furthermore, the high activity, stability and H2/CO ratio of Ni-SiO2 remained initial value even continued reacting at 700 °C for 30 h. Almost no visualization of metal growth and carbon deposition were observed on the spent catalyst.