Solar-driven dry reforming of methane using RuNi single-atom alloy catalyst coupled with thermal decomposition of carbonates

Traditional industries, which usually involve the thermal decomposition of carbonates into metal oxide, give a great contribution to the production of carbon dioxide (CO2). Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a process that transforms the greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4 into syngas (CO and H2), providing an efficient method for the usage of CO2 and the creation of high value-added chemicals. However, such traditional process typically requires high temperature and pressure to break the CO and CH bond, resulting in high operating costs. The development of solar-driven catalysis for the DRM is crucial to the search for a more sustainable path. Herein, RuNi single-atom alloy (RuNi-SAA) supported on Al2O3 was synthesized and exhibited enhanced production rates of H2 and CO (8.98 and 10.70 mmol·g−1·min−1, respectively) under photothermal condition. Additionally, CO2-emitting carbonates thermal decomposition reaction in traditional industries was combined with CO2-consuming DRM reaction to reduce CO2 emission. The selectivity of CO2 can be significantly reduced from 100% (direct carbonates thermal decomposition) to 20%, with simultaneously producing H2 and CO (0.68 and 0.44 mmol·g−1·min−1). This study presents an effective strategy to construct highly reactive SAA catalysts for photothermal DRM reaction and offers an alternative method to utilize and directly convert CO2 in traditional industries for the manufacture of high value-added chemicals.