On the effect of yttrium promotion on Ni-layered double hydroxides-derived catalysts for hydrogenation of CO2 to methane

Ni-containing mixed oxides derived from layered double hydroxides with various amounts of yttrium were synthesized by a co-precipitation method at constant pH and then obtained by thermal decomposition. The characterization techniques of XRD, elemental analysis, low-temperature N-2 sorption, H-2-TPR, CO2-TPD, TGA and TPO were used on the studied catalysts. The catalytic activity of the catalysts was evaluated in the CO2 methanation reaction performed at atmospheric pressure. The obtained results confirmed the formation of nano-sized mixed oxides after the thermal decomposition of hydrotalcites. The introduction of yttrium to Ni/Mg/Al layered double hydroxides led to a stronger interaction between nickel species and the matrix support and decreased nickel particle size as compared to the yttrium-free catalyst. The modification with Y (0.4 and 2 wt%) had a positive effect on the catalytic performance in the moderate temperature region (250 -300 degrees C), with CO2 conversion increasing from 16% for MO-OY to 81% and 40% for MO-0.4Y and MO-2.0Y at 250 degrees C, respectively. The improved activity may be correlated with the increase of percentage of medium-strength basic sites, the stronger metal-support interaction, as well as decreased crystallite size of metallic nickel. High selectivity towards methane of 99% formation at 250 degrees C was registered for all the catalysts. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Ni-containing mixed oxides derived from layered double hydroxides with various amounts of yttrium exhibited excellent catalytic activity, especially in the moderate temperature region. Modification with different amounts of yttrium had a positive effect on the catalytic performance and CO2 conversion rate, leading to mixed oxides with stronger affinity and smaller crystallite size.