Abstract
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•9 % La2O3 in support ZrO2 influences stabilization of zirconia and CO2 co-ordinations.•La2O3-ZrO2 supported Ni system has wide interface for CH4 decomposition sites.•Excellent redox accompany of Ce, La, Zr system for carbon deposit oxidation.•Cyclic temperature programmed experiments focus on re-oxidizing capability of surface.
Hydrogen production from dry reforming of methane (DRM) over chief Ni-based catalyst is cutting edge research area due to environmental consciousness about reducing global warming gases (CH4 and CO2) and greener route of synthesis. Herein, ceria promoted lanthanum-zirconia supported Ni catalyst system (5NixCe/LaZr; x = 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 5 wt.%) is prepared by the wet impregnation method. It is further characterized using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy, temperature-programmed and cyclic temperature-programmed experiments. 2.5 wt.% ceria promoted lanthana-zirconia supported Ni catalyst (5Ni2.5Ce/LaZr) has thermally stabilized the support, wide Ni-LaZr interface for CH4 decomposition, wide basic surfaces (La2O3-ZrO2) for CO2 interaction, CO2 coordinated La+3 sites (as La2O2CO3 species), low band gap and oxygen vacancy carrying mobile oxygen (which is replenished by CO2). Altogether, it produces more than 87 % hydrogen yield. This thorough study and fine correlation will help design industrially suitable catalyst for hydrogen production through DRM.