Dry reforming of methane by La0.5Sr0.5NiO3 perovskite oxides: influence of preparation method on performance and structural features of the catalysts

Abstract BACKGROUND The dry reforming of methane (DRM) process has received considerable attention for the production of syngas owing to its great environmental and economic benefits. LaNiO 3 and La 0.5 Sr 0.5 NiO 3 nanoparticles were synthesized with the co‐precipitation procedure using distilled and magnetic distilled water, and examined as catalysts in DRM. RESULTS The structure and morphology of the prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and temperature‐programmed reduction, desorption and hydrogenation techniques. The experimental results proved that the treated La 0.5 Ni 0.5 SrO 3 catalyst had better initial performance in DRM in comparison with the LaNiO 3 catalyst, due to its greater surface basicity. The orientation for deposition of carbon over the surface of the consumed catalysts was as follows: La 0.5 Sr 0.5 NiO 3 treated > La 0.5 Sr 0.5 NiO 3 non‐treated > LaNiO 3 non‐treated > LaNiO 3 treated . CONCLUSION Among the synthesized catalysts, the treated La 0.5 Sr 0.5 NiO 3 sample exhibited higher initial DRM activity, due to its greater surface basicity. Also, the higher surface basicity of the strontium‐substituted catalyst led to an increase in CO 2 desorption and coke deposition according to the Boudouard reaction. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry