Characterization of coprecipitated nickel on silica methanation catalysts by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract An X-ray photoemission spectroscopy study of a series of standard nickel compounds (Ni, NiO, Ni(OH)2, NiSiO3) and silica-supported nickel methanation catalysts has been conducted. The binding energies and spectral shapes of the standard samples provide a data base which has been used to understand the catalyst spectra. The activity and thermal stability of coprecipitated nickel catalysts has been attributed to the metal-support interaction. This interaction has been observed in two coprecipitated nickel-on-silica catalysts. The nickel spectra closely resemble those of amorphous NiSiO3. The interaction varies somewhat between the two catalysts studied as evidenced by differences in their reducibility.