Raising the CO<sub><i>x</i></sub> Methanation Activity of a Ru/γ‐Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Catalyst by Activated Modification of Metal–Support Interactions
Shilong Chen, Ali M. Abdel‐Mageed, Michael Dyballa, Magdalena Parlińska‐Wojtan, Joachim Bansmann, Simone Pollastri, Luca Olivi, Giuliana Aquilanti, R. Jürgen Behm
Abstract
Abstract Ru/Al 2 O 3 is a highly stable, but less active catalyst for methanation reactions. Herein we report an effective approach to significantly improve its performance in the methanation of CO 2 /H 2 mixtures. Highly active and stable Ru/γ‐Al 2 O 3 catalysts were prepared by high‐temperature treatment in the reductive reaction gas. Operando /in situ spectroscopy and STEM imaging reveals that the strongly improved activity, by factors of 5 and 14 for CO and CO 2 methanation, is accompanied by a flattening of the Ru nanoparticles and the formation of highly basic hydroxylated alumina sites. We propose a modification of the metal–support interactions (MSIs) as the origin of the increased activity, caused by modification of the Al 2 O 3 surface in the reductive atmosphere and an increased thermal mobility of the Ru nanoparticles, allowing their transfer to modified surface sites.