Interfacial Engineering of Silica‐Anchored Ni Nanoclusters for Stable and Efficient Dry Reforming of Methane

ABSTRACT Metal nanoparticles used in high‐temperature catalytic reactions, such as dry reforming of methane, are prone to sintering, leading to particle growth, loss of active surface area, and eventual catalyst deactivation. This is particularly true for nickel‐based catalysts, which, despite their high activity and low cost, often suffer from severe agglomeration and carbon deposition under harsh reforming conditions. Therefore, effectively preventing metal particle growth is crucial for achieving long‐term catalytic stability. In this work, we present a robust strategy to stabilize monodispersed Ni nanoclusters (NCs, 1 wt.%) by anchoring them onto a silica‐coated silicon carbide support (SiC@SiO 2 ). The resulting Ni/SiC@SiO 2 catalyst exhibited outstanding performance at 800°C, with 90% conversion for both CH 4 and CO 2 . The Ni NCs maintained a uniform size (∼1.8 nm) after stability testing, in contrast to the severe sintering (∼9.3 nm) and low activity (< 10% conversion) observed for Ni on unmodified SiC. The silica layers played a key role in chemically confining the Ni NCs, enhancing their dispersion and thermal stability. Furthermore, the formation of Ni‒O‒Si interfacial structures improved metal‐support interactions, effectively suppressing the reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction and facilitating carbon oxidation via CO 2 activation. This interfacial engineering strategy significantly enhanced the catalyst's resistance to both sintering and coking, offering a generalizable approach to designing durable metal catalysts for high‐temperature reactions.