Carbon dioxide reforming of methane over ordered mesoporous NiO–MgO–Al2O3 composite oxides

Ordered mesoporous NiO–MgO–Al2O3 composite oxides with various Ni and Mg content were facilely synthesized via one pot evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) strategy. These mesoporous materials with large specific surface areas, big pore volumes, uniform pore sizes and superior thermal stability were investigated as the catalysts for the carbon dioxide reforming of methane reaction. These materials performed high catalytic activity as well as long stability. The improved catalytic performances were suggested to be closely associated with both the amount of “accessible” active centers for the reactants owing to their advantageous structural properties and the stabilized Ni nanoparticles by mesoporous framework matrix due to the “confinement effect” of the mesopores. Besides, the role of the MgO basic modifier was also studied. It was observed that only moderate amount of the Mg containing (2 M%) could greatly promote the catalytic performances. The stabilized Ni nanoparticles as well as doped MgO had reinforced capacity of resistance to coke, accounting for no deactivation after 100 h long-term stability test at 700 °C. Therefore, the ordered mesoporous NiO–MgO–Al2O3 composite oxides promised a series of novel and stable catalyst candidates for carbon dioxide reforming of methane reaction.

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► Ordered mesoporous NiO-MgO-Al2O3 composite oxides with various Ni and Mg content were facilely synthesized via one-pot evaporation induced self-assembly strategy.
► These materials were employed as the catalysts for dry reforming and behaved excellent catalytic activities and long stability.
► Outstanding textural properties of the mesoporous materials and the “confinement effect” of the mesostructure contributed to distinguished catalytic performances.
► The role of the MgO basic modifier was detailedly investigated.
► Characteristics of the coke over the mesoporous catalyst were carefully studied.