Encapsulating Ni/CeO2-ZrO2 with SiO2 layer to improve it catalytic activity for steam reforming of toluene

Ni/CeO2-ZrO2 was encapsulated by SiO2 layer with expectation to obtain a high active catalyst for steam reforming of toluene. The coating structure was validated by X-ray diffraction experiments and electron microscope analysis. XPS data suggests the formation of a new Ni-O-Si configuration in core-shell catalysts. The presence of Ni-O-Si configuration shift electron from Ni to silica and thereby facilitates the intrinsic properties of catalysts. Compared to Ni/CeO2-ZrO2, turnover rate of Ni increased substantially in core-shell structures, Ni/CeO2-ZrO2@SiO2 with shell-to-core mass ratio as 1.0 showed about 5.5 times higher than the Ni/CeO2-ZrO2 catalyst.