Photothermal catalytic dry reforming of methane over Ce‐promoted Ni/NiO heterostructure

Abstract Photothermal catalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM) provides a sustainable carbon conversion route, but the syngas production rates remain unsatisfactory under low‐temperature conditions. This study reported a layered double hydroxide‐derived Ni–NiO heterojunction catalyst with optimized electronic environments via Ce doping. The Ce‐doped Ni–NiO catalyst exhibited excellent photothermal DRM performance, with H 2 and CO production rates of 93.90 and 114.25 mmol g −1 min −1 , respectively, and superior 12‐h stability. Mechanistic studies revealed that the Ni–NiO heterojunction activated CH 4 and CO 2 to form CH x * and O* species, while Ce doping promoted the coupling of these intermediates to CH 3 O*, enhancing syngas generation. This strategy effectively bonded the intermediate species generated from the reactants, thereby enhancing the conversion of CH 4 and CO 2 into syngas.