Robust Ni-Fe single atom alloy catalyst for oxygen-involved dry reforming of methane under mild conditions
摘要
Oxygen-involved dry reforming of methane (ODRM) offers a sustainable route for valorizing CO2 streams containing O2, while simultaneously allowing for the regulation of the H2/CO ratio and achieving self-compensation of heat. However, its efficiency is hampered by the competitive reaction of O2, which suppresses CO2 conversion, particularly at low temperatures. Herein, we report an atomically dispersed NiFe alloy catalyst (NiFeSAA/CeO2) for efficient CO2 conversion in ODRM with a CO2/O2 ratio of 2:1, which shows 69% of CH4 conversion and 65% of CO2 conversion and no obvious carbon deposition at 600 °C during the long-term testing. In situ characterizations and theoretical calculations determined that Fe atoms are atomically embedded into the Ni lattice, which effectively modulates the electronic state of Ni and the metal-support interaction. The presence of this active species results in moderate CO2 adsorption and weakened C–O bonds of stable carbonate species in the presence of O2, accelerating the conversion of CO2. The electronic bonding Ni-Fe single-atom alloy inhibits excessive interactions between Ni and CeO2 and promotes the selective oxidation of CH4 to CHxO* intermediates, thereby avoiding methane deep cracking and Ni oxidation, contributing to the superior catalytic stability. This work provides a strategy for constructing atomically dispersed alloys to decouple and regulate the competitive adsorption/activation of multiple reactants, offering a promising route for the direct and efficient conversion of industrial CO2-containing feeds without costly purification.