Mesoporous Ni/Ce_1-xNi_xO_2-y heterostructure as an efficient catalyst for converting greenhouse gas to H₂ and syngas

It has been a great challenge to develop an efficient and stable catalyst for dry reforming of methane with carbon dioxide. A new catalyst was synthesized with the catalytically active component in both the lattice and on the surface of the mesoporous support. A remarkable improvement in the catalytic performance of Ni nanocrystals assembled inside pore channels of mesostructured Ni-doped ceria was observed. The initial activity and long-term stability of the sample substantially surpassed that of samples without the intermixed oxide and/or a nonporous architecture, even though the latter was more available. Such an effect concerning a collaborative function stemming from a mesostructure and solid solution has been rarely reported previously in catalysis involving CeO₂. We believe that this finding might be of a very generic character and be extended to lots of similar fields. It is expected that the results here can spur experimental and theoretical investigation to promote fundamental comprehension of host-guest or metal-oxide interplay in CeO₂-based composite materials.