Recent advances in the design of high-performance cobalt-based catalysts for dry reforming of methane

Abstract

Fossil fuel combustion and industrial production inevitably increase carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, thereby exacerbating the global greenhouse effect. The feed gas for dry reforming of methane (DRM) is two main greenhouse gases (CH₄ and CO₂), and the reaction products can provide key raw materials (H₂ and CO) for the production of ammonia and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. Due to the strong endothermic property and the high activation energy of DRM, suitable catalysts are needed to promote the reaction. Non-noble metals such as Co and Ni with abundant reserves and low prices exhibit excellent performance. Therefore, they are widely used as active metals in DRM. In this review, we report the recent advances in the study of noble metals and non-noble metals as second active metals for Co-based catalysts in the DRM reaction. At the same time, the influence of the catalyst support, physical and chemical properties of the catalyst on the DRM reaction are also summarized, followed by a detailed discussion of the mechanism of the Co-based for the DRM reaction. Finally, the potential challenges and research directions that Co-based catalysts may face in DRM are proposed.