CO2 reforming of methane over Ni/Sm2O3–CaO catalyst prepared by a sol–gel technique

A sol–gel method was employed to prepare Ni/CaO, Ni/Sm2O3 and a series of Ni/Sm2O3–CaO catalysts dispersed uniformly. The catalytic performance in CO2/CH4 reforming and the physicochemical properties were investigated by means of GC, BET, XRD, TG/DTA and HRTEM techniques, respectively. Under the condition of an atmospheric pressure at 700 °C and a GHSV of 4.8 × 104 ml/h/gcat, the conversion of CH4 and CO2 over 10% Ni/Sm2O3–CaO (1:4) catalyst were 60% and 63%, respectively, the selectivity of H2 and CO were 85% and 95%, significantly higher than those over Ni/CaO and Ni/Sm2O3 due to high dispersion of Ni nanometer particles and interfacial effect of support in 10% Ni/Sm2O3–CaO.