Boron-promoted Ni/MgO catalysts for enhanced activity and coke suppression during dry reforming of methane

The dry reforming of methane (DRM) provides an attractive solution for the utilization of CH 4 and CO 2 and its performance highly depends on the catalyst. In this study, DRM to syngas was studied using a series of Ni/MgO catalysts modified by B 2 O 3 (0.1–2.0 wt.%). The results demonstrated that introducing only 0.25 wt.% B 2 O 3 to 4Ni/MgO catalyst significantly improved its activity, stability, and carbon resistance. After 40 h time on stream (TOS), the activity of 4Ni0.25B/MgO catalyst almost unchanged and was approximately 20% higher than that of the unmodified 4Ni/MgO catalyst. The 4Ni0.25B/MgO catalyst also showed the least carbon deposits (0.3 wt.%) among all samples. The characterization tests suggest that B 2 O 3 substantially enhanced the Ni reducibility during DRM without weakening the Ni–MgO interaction, thereby improving the activity without sacrificing the dispersion and stability of the Ni nanoparticles (NPs). Intermetallic nickel boride was formed when B 2 O 3 interacted with metallic Ni, which suppressed the formation of filamentous and graphitic carbon. In addition, excess B 2 O 3 has a slight influence on the formation of amorphous carbon. • Introducing only 0.25 wt.% B 2 O 3 to Ni/MgO improved its DRM performance. • B 2 O 3 enhanced Ni reducibility without weakening Ni–MgO interaction. • Intermetallic nickel boride formed at the Ni-B 2 O 3 interface can suppress coking. • This strategy could be used for other types of solid solution such as perovskite.