Methane reforming with CO2 using nickel catalysts supported on yttria-doped SBA-15 mesoporous materials via sol–gel process

•Yttrium-doped SBA-15 mesoporous supports were prepared via sol–gel method.•Y-containing nickel catalysts were effective for CH4 reforming with CO2.•Y enhanced the reduction of NiO and the formation of smaller Ni0 particles.

A series of mesoporous yttrium (Y)-containing SBA-15 (mesoporous silica of Santa Barbara Amorphous type material) prepared using a sol–gel method with various Y/Si molar ratios was investigated as the supporting material of nickel (Ni) catalysts for the methane reforming with CO2. The highly ordered hexagonal structure of SBA-15 was well-retained after the incorporation of yttrium at the molar ratio of Y/Si (0.04). The presence of yttrium in the framework of SBA-15 in Ni catalysts effectively enhanced the formation of the Ni metallic particles with small size. It also significantly promoted the reduction of NiO due to the oxygen vacancies on the surface of the yttrium-containing SBA-15 supports, and the high mobility of the surface oxygen species. All yttrium-containing nickel catalysts were effective for the methane reforming with CO2. The supported Ni catalyst with Y/Si molar ratio of 0.04 exhibited the highest activity, which was due to its highly ordered mesoporous structure, large pore diameter and small metallic metal size.