Highly dispersed nickel catalysts via a facile pyrolysis generated protective carbon layer

Highly dispersed nickel catalysts were synthesized by simple Ni(acac)(2) impregnation followed by pyrolysis of organic ligands, which produces a protective carbon coating on the Ni nanoparticles, reducing the metal mobility and sintering. The synthesized catalyst shows high thermal stability and enhanced CO methanation activity compared to the catalyst prepared by the traditional impregnation/ calcination method.