Effects of Ni-Cu Composition and Oxide Support on Catalytic Dry Reforming of Methane

Ni-Cu catalysts were prepared on zirconia, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), ceria-zirconia solid solution (CZ), and gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) as supports, in order to investigate the effects of Ni-Cu composition and type of oxide support on the catalytic activity for dry reforming of methane (DRM). The total amount of NiO and CuO was fixed at 20 wt%, while the ratio of CuO to the total amount was varied at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 wt%. The DRM was performed at 600 °C for 1 h using the gas mixture of CH4/CO2 = 1. The DRM performance as evaluated by gas chromatography and thermogravimetry indicates that Ni-Cu catalysts with higher CuO composition (>50 wt%) showed higher H2 yield per Ni weight and lower amount of deposited carbon as compared to lower CuO composition. The most effective support for enhancing the DRM activity and suppressing carbon deposition was GDC, which possesses both higher oxygen ion conductivity and better O2 absorbing-releasing properties.