Methane Steam Reforming Over NiO/Ce_xZr_yO₂-Sil-1 Catalyst Prepared by In-Situ Self-Assembly

NiO/Ce_xZr_yO₂-Sil-1 catalysts were prepared using an In-Situ self-assembly approach by coupling silicalite-1 and Ce_xZr_yO₂. This one-step synthesis method utilized the high surface area and hydrothermal stability of silicalite-1 and the good oxidation-reduction ability of the Ce_xZr_yO₂, and hence offered high synthesis efficiency. The catalyst structure was examined by N₂-physisorption, temperature-programmed reduction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. All the results showed that silicalite-1 was well-encapsulated by NiO/Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂. Furthermore, the effect of the Ce/Zr molar ratio on the performance of the catalysts was investigated in detail. The catalysts were subjected to methane steam reforming at high temperatures to evaluate their catalytic performance. The result showed that the NiO/Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂-Sil-1 catalyst exhibited the best performance and its methane conversion efficiency reached up to 99.5%. Even after 16 h of continuous stability test, this catalyst could retain a methane conversion efficiency of 97.8%.