Citation: Dawei Han, Jing Xiong, Yitao Yang, Zhenpeng Wang, Qifeng Sun, Zhen Zhao, Yuechang Wei. Binary Ni-Ce active sites embedded on 3D ordered macro-mesoporous ZrO₂ for boosting coke-resistance dry reforming of methane[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(11): 113210. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2026.113210 shu

Binary Ni-Ce active sites embedded on 3D ordered macro-mesoporous ZrO₂ for boosting coke-resistance dry reforming of methane

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State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Key Laboratory of Optical Detection Technology for Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China

weiyc@cup.edu.cn

Received Date: 10 March 2026
Revised Date: 16 June 2026
Accepted Date: 13 July 2026
Available Online: 14 July 2026

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The coke-resistance property of industrial catalysts for dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction is still a challenge. Herein, the multifunctional nanocatalysts of binary Ni-Ce active sites embedded on 3D ordered macro-mesoporous ZrO₂ (NiCeO_x/3DOMM-ZrO₂) were successfully fabricated by the carboxy-modified colloidal crystal templating (CMCCT)-impregnation method. 3DOMM structure can improve the mass transfer and diffusion of reactants (CH₄ and CO₂) in the pore channel, which can increase the contact efficiency between reactants and binary Ni-Ce active sites. The Ni-sites in binary Ni-Ce active components can activate the C—H bond dissociation of CH₄, while the oxygen vacancy of CeO_x-component can trap the oxygen atom in CO₂ reactant. NiCeO_x/3DOMM-ZrO₂ catalyst exhibits the highest catalytic activity and stability during DRM reaction in comparison with single Ni- or Ce-based catalysts, and its coke-resistance property is dependent on 3DOMM nanostructure of ZrO₂, i.e., its conversion rates of CH₄ and CO₂ remain above 91% at 750 °C for 50 h, and its apparent activation energy (E_a) decreases to 70.2 kJ/mol. Based on the results of the in situ DRIFTS and DFT, the catalytic mechanism of NiCeO_x/3DOMM-ZrO₂ catalyst for DRM was proposed: the synergy effect of binary Ni-Ce active sites can promote the rate key steps of C—H and C—O bond dissociation, and the formed coke in the macropores during DRM can accessibly react with the surface oxygen on the binary Ni-Ce active sites to CO, which effectively inhibits the formation of carbon deposits. It provides an effective strategy to develop high-efficient coke-resistance catalysts during DRM reaction.
- Ordered macro-mesoporous catalysts,
- Binary active sites,
- Dry reforming of methane,
- Synergy effect,
- Coke resistance
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通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

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沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142

Binary Ni-Ce active sites embedded on 3D ordered macro-mesoporous ZrO2 for boosting coke-resistance dry reforming of methane

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通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

Binary Ni-Ce active sites embedded on 3D ordered macro-mesoporous ZrO₂ for boosting coke-resistance dry reforming of methane