Nickel Catalysts Don’t Work the Way Scientists Thought
Researchers have discovered that nickel catalysts used in methane oxidation undergo atomic-level structural changes during the reaction, rather than remaining as metallic nickel. This finding could lead to the development of more efficient catalysts that require significantly less nickel.
Why it matters
Improving catalytic efficiency for syngas production could lower industrial costs and reduce the environmental footprint of chemical manufacturing.
The model and image of the in situ-formed [Ni 1 O 4 Ni 4 ] active structure. Credit: DICP A hidden atomic structure formed on nickel oxide could enable powerful methane catalysts that use 10 times less nickel.
Producing syngas efficiently from methane could become easier with a better understanding of what actually drives the reaction at the atomic level. Partial oxidation of methane (POM) is considered a promising industrial method for making syngas, a mixture widely used as a starting material for fuels and chemicals.
For years, scientists have generally viewed metallic nickel (Ni) nanoparticles as the active catalytic centers responsible for the reaction. But there has been an important uncertainty. The metallic Ni found after the reaction may not be the material that actually performs the catalysis. Instead, it could form later when nickel oxide is reduced by syngas at high temperatures.
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