H2 Production from Methane Reforming over Molybdenum Carbide Catalysts: From Surface Properties and Reaction Mechanism to Catalyst Development

Hydrogen, with its high energy content and environmental-friendly properties, is considered an effective energy carrier in addition to fossil fuels. Methane reforming represents a major method of hydrogen production, although the applied catalysts often suffer from coke deposition and metal sintering at high operating temperatures. Transition-metal carbides (TMCs), particularly molybdenum carbides (MoxC), possess features such as Pt-like behaviors, affinity with oxidants such as CO2 and H2O, and a strong metal–support interaction for metal dispersion and stabilization, rendering them great prospective candidates for catalyzing the methane reforming reactions (MRRs). This review focuses on the recent applications and challenges of TMCs in MRRs, with an emphasis on the strategies to improve their performance by (1) engineering the operational conditions, (2) designing a dual M–MoxC (M = Ni or Co etc.) active site, (3) dispersing M–MoxC on supports, and (4) generating a M–MoxC/MoOxCy interface in situ. The present review will provide guidance for the future design of efficient catalysts for H2 production from MRRs.