Non-PGM Nickel/Ceria-Zirconia based Catalyst for CH4 Oxidation

Turnover frequency graph.

Fig. 1 CH4 oxidation turnover frequency (TOF) at 400 °C over Ni/CexZr1-xO2 catalysts and oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of CexZr1-xO2 supports.

Overview

Methane is the most difficult hydrocarbon to activate due to its four highly stable and symmetric C-H bonds; therefore, its complete combustion has always been a challenge.

Platinum group metals (PGMs) are widely regarded to have the best activity for activating this C-H bond and completely oxidizing CH4. Supported palladium catalysts, in particular Pd/Al2O3, Pd/CeO2 and Pd/ZrO2, are considered to be highly active catalysts for the complete CH4 combustion at temperatures as low as 400 °C. Despite the promising CH4 combustion performance of supported Pd catalysts, alternatives are actively being sought due to its high cost.

In this project, the Kyriakidou group is focused on Ni/ceria-zirconia based catalysts to estabilish key kinetic measurements and material effects (Figure 1). Moreover, a detailed CH4 oxidation mechanism and kinetic model was developed in Dr. Kyriakidou’s research group.

Resulting Publications

J. Chen, B.D. Carlson, T.J. Toops, Z. Li, M.J. Lance, J.-S. Choi, E.A. Kyriakidou, “Methane combustion over Ni/CexZr1-xO2 catalysts: impact of ceria/zirconia ratio.” ChemCatChem, DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202000947R1 (2020).

Students on this Project

  • Junjie Chen (PhD)