Role of surface Ni and Ce species of Ni/CeO2 catalyst in CO2 methanation

CeO2, which was used as support to prepare mesoporous Ni/CeO2 catalyst, was prepared by the hard-template method. The prepared NiO/CeO2 precursor and Ni/CeO2 catalyst were studied by H2–TPR, in-situ XPS, and in-situ FT-IR. The catalytic properties of the prepared Ni/CeO2 catalyst were also investigated by CO2 catalytic hydrogenation methanation. H2–TPR and in-situ XPS results showed that metal Ni species and surface oxygen vacancies could be formed by H2 reduction. In-situ FT-IR and in-situ XPS results indicated that CO2 molecules could be reduced by active metal Ni species and surface oxygen vacancies to generate active CO species and promote CO2 methanation. The Ni/CeO2 catalyst presented the high CO2 methanation activity, and CO2 conversion and CH4 selectivity reached 91.1% and 100% at 340 °C and atmospheric pressure.