Ni nanoparticles on Co3O4 catalyze the reverse water-gas shift with 95 % CO selectivity at 300 & DEG;C

Ni nanoparticles (NPs) supported on Al2O3, ZnO, Fe2O3 and Co3O4 activate CO2 for the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction at ambient pressure. The highly dispersed Ni NPs at a loading of 0.02 g g-1 minimized agglomeration and hydrogen adsorption to the surface, thus CO hydrogenation. Irreducible (Al2O3, ZnO) and reducible (Fe2O3, Co3O4) supports promoted the catalytic properties of Ni. The metal-support interaction (MSI) between Ni and semi-conductors ZnO and Co3O4 suppresses CH4 formation, increases the selectivity towards the RWGS, and promotes the catalytic activity and stability of Ni. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) formed during the reaction dispersed Ni/Co3O4 and promoted its catalytic properties by forming a synergistic relationship between Ni/Co3O4 and CNTs. Ni/Co3O4 converted the most CO2 among all catalysts at -36 % of CO2 with traces of CH4, while Ni/Al2O3 converted -33 % with a -96 % CO selectivity at 600 & DEG;C. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Ni/ Co3O4 converts 4 % of the CO2 in the feed with a 95 % CO selectivity at 300 & DEG;C due to the reducibility of Co3O4 promoting the catalytic properties of Ni.