NiMgAlMo catalyst derived from a guest-host MoO42- mediated layered double hydroxide: High performance for the methane decomposition reaction

The synthesis of highly active and stable Ni catalysts for the catalytic decomposition of methane (CDM) reaction is still a challenge. Herein, a MoO42− intercalated NiMgAlMo layered double hydrotalcite (LDH) was synthesized. After calcination and reduction, NiMo alloy particles with an average diameter of 7.4 nm were formed and showed good thermal stability. The NiMgAlMo-800 catalyst showed superior hydrogen formation rate of 56 mmol/gNi min compared with the NiMgAl-800 catalyst of 33 mmol/gNi min derived from NiMgAl-LDH. The stability of the NiMgAlMo-800 catalyst showed good catalytic stability under 10 times reaction-regeneration cycles. With the aid of multiple characterization techniques, we found that Mo addition could not only improve nickel dispersibility but also facilitate methane adsorption and hydrogen desorption through simulative electron transfer from Mo to Ni, thus enhancing the catalyst activity. The insights and methodology presented here may shed new light on the synthesis of highly dispersed and stable metal catalysts.