Layered Na₂Ti₃O₇-supported Ru catalyst for ambient CO₂ methanation

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) methanation is crucial for renewable energy storage and climate change mitigation.
• Low-temperature CO2 conversion to methane (CH4) remains a significant challenge for existing catalysts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly efficient catalyst for low-temperature CO2 methanation.
• To stabilize low-valence ruthenium for enhanced CO2 activation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a layered Na2Ti3O7-supported Ru catalyst.
• Evaluation of catalytic performance at low temperatures (140-180°C) and ambient pressure.
• Assessment of catalyst stability under intermittent operation and long-term testing.

Main Results:

• Achieved CH4 production rates of 33.6 and 139.1 mmol gcat-1 h-1 at 140°C and 180°C, respectively.
• Demonstrated catalyst robustness against on-off intermittency and 220-hour stability.
• Confirmed scalability via gram-scale synthesis and integration into a 3D-printed reactor.

Conclusions:

• The Na2Ti3O7-supported Ru catalyst effectively stabilizes low-valence Ru, enabling efficient low-temperature CO2 hydrogenation.
• The catalyst exhibits excellent performance, stability, and scalability for practical applications.
• This work represents a significant advancement in designing catalysts for CO2 conversion.