High-performance Ni–SiO2 for pressurized carbon dioxide reforming of methane

•The complex-decomposition method was applied for synthesizing Ni–SiO2 and SiO2.•Ni–SiO2 and Ni/SiO2 were studied for CO2 reforming of CH4 under 0.1 and 1.0 MPa.•The complexing agents greatly affected the reaction performance of the catalysts.•The interactions between Ni and SiO2 strongly depended on the complexing agent.•A highly active and stable Ni–SiO2 achieved for pressurized CO2 reforming of CH4.

The SiO2 and Ni–SiO2 were synthesized via the complex-decomposition method by using different organic acids as the complexing agent and fuel. The Ni-supported SiO2 from different sources was prepared by the incipient impregnation method. The Ni–SiO2 and Ni/SiO2 were comparatively evaluated for carbon dioxide reforming of methane (CDR) under severe conditions of CH4/CO2 = 1.0, T = 750 °C, GHSV = 53200 mL g−1 h−1, and P = 0.1–1.0 MPa. The materials were fully characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, TG-DSC, H2-TPR, and N2 adsorption-desorption at −196 °C. It was found that the complexing agent and preparation method of the catalyst significantly affected its surface area, the size and dispersion of Ni, the reduction behavior, and the coking and sintering properties, which determine the activity and stability of the catalyst for CDR. As a result, a highly active and stable Ni–SiO2 for pressurized CDR was obtained by optimizing the complexing agent.

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