High activity and strong coke resistance of nickel CO2-CH4 reforming catalyst promoted by different plasma treated modes.

• The N-MP-P catalyst exhibited the best stability performance and resistance to carbon deposition than that of the N-M-C catalyst. • The decreased Si-OH groups on the support surface would promote to prevent the agglomeration of Ni species and enhance the dispersion of Ni species. • The catalyst precursor was modified by RF plasma, obtaining smaller particle sizes and highly dispersed of Ni species and more surface adsorbed oxygen. The radio frequency plasma was used to decorate the MCM-41 support or to treat the catalyst precursor. The structures and CO 2 CH 4 reforming performances of nickel-based catalysts prepared by different plasma treated modes were compared. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, H 2 -TPR, XPS, TEM, TG and contact angle. Comparing with the calcined catalyst supported on common MCM-41 (N-M-C), the plasma treated catalyst supported on plasma decorated MCM-41(N-MP-P) showed highest activity and best stability because of less Si-OH groups on support, smaller nickel particle size and more homogeneously dispersion as well as stronger interaction between nickel-MCM-41. The average CH 4 and CO 2 conversions were increased by 24.0% and 19.3%, respectively. After 30 h reaction, there was a little loss of the conversions, and the carbon deposition was decreased from 35.8% on N-M-C to 0.8% on N-MP-P; additionally, the Ni particle size was reduced from 20.9 to 8.5 nm, which proved that the coke resistance was apparently promoted. Comparing with the effect of plasma decorating the support, that of plasma treating the catalyst precursor played a more important role in the structure and catalytic performance of the Ni-based catalyst. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]