Microwave-assisted catalytic dry reforming of methane with CO2 over nitrogen-doped catalysts derived from metal-organic frameworks

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) can convert CO2 into syngas for the production of fuels and chemicals, offering both environmental and energetic benefits. However, its large-scale industrial applications face challenges such as harsh reaction conditions and catalyst deactivation. In this study, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived N-doped Ni-based bifunctional nanomaterials (Ni-Co/NC) were meticulously synthesized to function as microwave absorbers and catalysts. Efficient syngas production was achieved through the microwave-enhanced DRM process over Ni-Co/NC. The results showed that the Ni-Co/NC catalyst significantly increased the conversion of CH4 (similar to 93.2 %) and CO2 (similar to 94.8 %). By comparing the changes in the surface properties of the catalysts before and after N-doping, it was found that N-doping enhanced the interaction between the carrier and metal particles, improved the specific surface area and surface basicity, and inhibited the aggregation of metal particles, thereby enhancing catalytic activity. The reaction mechanism was investigated using in-situ infrared spectroscopy, revealing that the formation of intermediates such as carbonates, formates, O-H groups was crucial to improving catalytic activity and stability. Compared to conventional catalytic processes, the catalysts prepared in this study demonstrated stronger catalytic activity and stability in the microwave catalytic process.