LaNiO3@SiO2 core–shell nano-particles for the dry reforming of CH4 in the dielectric barrier discharge plasma

•LaNiO3@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles were prepared by water-in-oil method.•LaNiO3@SiO2 presents excellent catalytic performance in the dry reforming.•The SiO2 shells prevent Ni from sintering and mitigating carbon formation.

LaNiO3@SiO2 core–shell nano-particles were prepared by coating LaNiO3 nano-particles with SiO2 and then employed to catalyze the dry reforming of CH4 to produce syngas (CO + H2) in a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor under ambient conditions. Compared to the traditional Ni-based catalysts (Ni/SiO2, LaNiO3/SiO2 and LaNiO3), LaNiO3@SiO2 exhibited better catalytic performance in the dry reforming of CH4 in DBD plasma reactor, such as higher reactant conversion and product selectivity, and excellent catalytic stability. The conversions of CH4 and CO2 reached 88.31% and 77.76%, and selectivities of CO and H2 were 92.43% and 83.65%, respectively. Results manifested the core–shell structure endowed LaNiO3@SiO2 with excellent catalytic performance because the SiO2 shell was capable of preventing Ni from sintering and mitigating carbon deposition during the reaction.