Robust macroscopic Ni-based catalyst for efficient low-temperature CO2 methanation

CO 2 methanation is recognized as a highly promising route for CO 2 utilization and has garnered significant interest in recent years. Herein, three-dimensional nickel-based macroscopic catalysts promoted with cerium have been synthesized by a facile approach for efficient low-temperature CO 2 methanation. The catalysts were thoroughly characterized, and their catalytic performance was systematically evaluated under various conditions. Results indicated that pre-thermal treatment of the carbon support could effectively introduce numerous defects, which provided abundant anchoring sites for the high dispersion of active metal sites. The incorporation of cerium effectively increased the surface oxygen vacancies and enhanced the electron density of the active nickel sites, thereby facilitating CO 2 activation and hydrogenation. The optimized catalyst exhibited notable catalytic performance at 280 °C with a CO 2 conversion of 73%, and a highest CH 4 productivity of 2.54 mol/(g Ni ·h). This work provides valuable impetus for the further development of carbon-based macroscopic catalysts for low-temperature CO 2 methanation.