Pulsed laser induced plasma and thermal effects on molybdenum carbide for dry reforming of methane

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a highly endothermic process, with its development hindered by the harsh thermocatalytic conditions required. We propose an innovative DRM approach utilizing a 16 W pulsed laser in combination with a cost-effective Mo₂C catalyst, enabling DRM under milder conditions. The pulsed laser serves a dual function by inducing localized high temperatures and generating ^*CH plasma on the Mo₂C surface. This activates CH₄ and CO₂, significantly accelerating the DRM reaction. Notably, the laser directly generates ^*CH plasma from CH₄ through thermionic emission and cascade ionization, bypassing the traditional step-by-step dehydrogenation process and eliminating the rate-limiting step of methane cracking. This method maintains a carbon-oxygen balanced environment, thus preventing the deactivation of the Mo₂C catalyst due to CO₂ oxidation. The laser-catalytic DRM achieves high yields of H₂ (14300.8 mmol h^-1 g^-1) and CO (14949.9 mmol h^-1 g^-1) with satisfactory energy efficiency (0.98 mmol kJ^-1), providing a promising alternative for high-energy-consuming catalytic systems.