The abundance of carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere makes the Sabatier reaction feasible to produce consumables on Mars. Methane, a potential propellant, can be produced alongside water through the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide. Given the energy limitations in this environment, a catalyst capable of achieving high activity at mild operating conditions and the minimal energy consumption is vital. Ni-based catalysts for CO2 methanation have been studied at high reaction temperatures &gt;573 K and atmospheric pressure. Interfacial sites between Ni metal particles and metal oxide supports (CeO2 and TiO2) have been deemed essential for enhanced CO2 adsorption and activation. This study demonstrates the activity of inverse Ni/CeO2 prepared by coprecipitation methods with enhanced metal/oxide interface sites for low-temperature (&lt;573 K) CO2 methanation. The tuning of Ni/Ce ratios in inverse catalyst systems results in a four-fold increase in methane formation rates compared with supported Ni particles on CeO2 operating at mild reaction conditions (temperatures &lt;548 K and atmospheric pressure). Characterization of inverse Ni/CeO2 by in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) demonstrates plausible surface intermediates and reaction pathways by which CO2 methanation occurs.

Inverse Ni/CeO2 catalysts for production of methane from carbon dioxide

ACS Spring 2022

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