Premium
Raising the CO x Methanation Activity of a Ru/γ‐Al 2 O 3 Catalyst by Activated Modification of Metal–Support Interactions
Author(s) -
Chen Shilong,
AbdelMageed Ali M.,
Dyballa Michael,
ParlinskaWojtan Magdalena,
Bansmann Joachim,
Pollastri Simone,
Olivi Luca,
Aquilanti Giuliana,
Behm R. Jürgen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202007228
Subject(s) - methanation , catalysis , metal , ruthenium , nanoparticle , materials science , chemistry , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , engineering
Ru/Al 2 O 3 is a highly stable, but less active catalyst for methanation reactions. Herein we report an effective approach to significantly improve its performance in the methanation of CO 2 /H 2 mixtures. Highly active and stable Ru/γ‐Al 2 O 3 catalysts were prepared by high‐temperature treatment in the reductive reaction gas. Operando /in situ spectroscopy and STEM imaging reveals that the strongly improved activity, by factors of 5 and 14 for CO and CO 2 methanation, is accompanied by a flattening of the Ru nanoparticles and the formation of highly basic hydroxylated alumina sites. We propose a modification of the metal–support interactions (MSIs) as the origin of the increased activity, caused by modification of the Al 2 O 3 surface in the reductive atmosphere and an increased thermal mobility of the Ru nanoparticles, allowing their transfer to modified surface sites.