One-step synthesis of ordered mesoporous CoAl2O4 spinel-based metal oxides for CO2 reforming of CH4

A series of ordered mesoporous CoAl2O4 spinel-based metal oxides with different Co content were facilely synthesized via a one-step evaporation-induced self-assembly method and utilized as catalysts for CO2 reforming of CH4. These mesoporous catalysts, which have unique textural properties and outstanding thermal stabilities, exhibited excellent catalytic performances under various reaction conditions. The ordered mesostructures in the catalysts could provide sufficiently accessible Co active sites for gaseous reactants and stabilize Co metallic nanoparticles via confinement effects within the mesoporous frameworks. These mesoporous catalysts exhibited better anti-coke abilities than non-mesoporous catalysts or traditional supported catalysts, thus acting as a promising series of potential catalyst candidates for CO2 reforming of CH4.