Catalytic Activity of Various 5 wt % Ni/Ce0.5Zr0.33M0.17O2-δ Catalysts for the CO2 Reforming of CH4 in the Presence and Absence of Steam

Catalysts derived from ceria zirconia-based ternary oxide supports by impregnation with nickel, and having a nominal composition of 5 wt % Ni/Ce0.5Zr0.33M0.17O2-delta (where M is either a transition (Ts) metal, non-Ts metal, or inner-Ts metal), were prepared and evaluated for the CO2 reforming of CH4 in the presence and absence of steam. The textural, structural, redox, physicochemical, and surface characteristics of the supports as well as whole catalysts were correlated with catalyst activity for the CO2 reforming of methane in the presence and absence of steam, in an attempt to evaluate the potential of the existence of structure/activity relationships (SARs). The results show that a higher oxygen storage capacity (OSC), pore volume/surface area, reducibility, nickel dispersion and surface nickel content lead to an increase in the activity of the catalysts for the above processes. Among the various catalysts tested, the 5 wt % Ni/Ce0.5Zr0.33M0.17O2-delta catalyst formulations, with M = Ca, La, and Y, exhibit the highest activity for CO2 reforming of CH4 both in the presence and in the absence of steam for the reason that they exhibited the overall highest values of the identified characteristics.