Carbon Materials as Catalysts for Decomposition and CO2 Reforming of Methane: A Review

The decomposition and CO2 reforming of methane, respectively, are promising alternatives to industrial steam methane reforming. In recent years, research has been focused on the development of catalysts that can operate without getting deactivated by carbon deposition, where, in particular, carbon catalysts have shown positive results. In this work, the role of carbon materials in heterogeneous catalysis is assessed and publications on methane decomposition and CO2 reforming of methane over carbon materials are reviewed. The influence of textural properties (BET surface area and micropore volume, etc.) and oxygen surface groups on the catalytic activity of carbon materials are discussed. In addition, this review examines how activated carbon and carbon black catalysts, which are the most commonly used carbon catalysts, are deactivated. Characteristics of the carbon deposits from methane are discussed and the influence of the reactivity to CO2 of fresh carbon and carbonaceous deposits for high and steady conversion during CO2 reforming of CH4 are also considered.

Graphical abstractDecomposition and CO2 reforming of methane over carbon catalysts are reviewed. The focus was on the relationship between the physicochemical properties of the carbon catalysts and their catalytic activity and why they get deactivated.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide