Rh promoted Ni over yttria-zirconia supported catalyst for hydrogen-rich syngas production through dry reforming of methane

Rh-promoted YZr-supported Ni catalyst (5Ni/YZr) is investigated for DRM and characterized with X-ray diffraction, Raman, infrared spectroscopy, cyclic reduction-oxidation-reduction temperature programmed experiment, thermogravimetry, and transmission electron microscope. Over 5Ni/YZr, some active sites become inactive under the CO2 stream and limit H-2 yield to & SIM;71%. Upon 4 wt% Rh addition over 5Ni/YZr; more than one type of stable active sites (Rh and Ni) generates, moderate basic sites are enhanced, wide ranges of CO2-interacted surface species (especially bidentate CO2-adsorbed species) are grown and graphitic carbon proportion over spent catalyst declines. This resulted in 87.35% H-2 yield and 86.73% CO yield up to 420 min. 5Ni4Rh/YZr catalyst maintains & SIM;80% H-2 yield at the end of 27 h of DRM reaction.