Ni@ZrO₂ yolk-shell catalyst for CO₂ methane reforming: Effect of Ni@SiO₂ size as the hard-template

This paper reports the usage ratio of TEOS and Zr(OBu)₄ on the formation of Ni@ZrO₂ yolk-shell for dry reforming of methane. From XPS analysis, the ZrO₂ hollow shell texture is demonstrated to be [TEOS]/[Zr(OBu)₄] dependent due to different sizes of SiO₂ produced. It found that an adequate ratio of [TEOS]/[Zr(OBu)₄] improves the catalytic conversion of dry reforming of methane. It (Ni@ZrO₂-SiZr-7.7) shows 90% conversion for CH₄ and 93% for CO₂ at a WHSV of 72,000 mLg_cat^-1h^-1 for 50 h at 800 °C with TOF_CH4 of 8.7 s^-1. It proposed that the changes in surface Si/Zr and gradual interconnecting pores contributed to its activity and stability. These finding's potential to be utilized in other high-temperature reactions.