Efficient syngas production via CO2 reforming and electroreduction reactions through catalyst design

CO(2 )conversion to produce syngas via reforming of CH4 and electrochemical reduction reaction is attractive to achieve carbon neutralization, mitigate CO2 related environmental problems, and provide important intermediate for value-added chemicals production. Tremendous progress has been made in the catalyst development for these two reactions, which is critical to improve the utilization efficiency of the inert CO2. Whereas, catalyst design strategies for these two reactions have not been systematically discussed. Therefore, here, design strategies such as increasing sintering resistance, enhancing redox property, basicity, and porosity etc. for structured catalysts including core/yolk shell, perovskite and spinel catalyst for DRM are analysed. In addition, CRR catalyst design measures from both atomic-, molecular-and meso-scale for instance tuning of electronic structure, size, morphology, and porosity to increase the syngas selectivity are compared. Finally, challenges and future work of these two reactions are proposed. Some of the challenges and solutions include (1) facile large scale synthesis strategies are highly desired to design multifunctional catalysts with low mass transfer resistance in addition to silica-based and noble-metal based catalysts; (2) mechanism illustration of confinement effect, synergistic effect, and intermediate species are crucial and feasible aided with various in situ characterization techniques; (3) more stringent reaction conditions are required to boost their industrial process of these two reactions. This review is timely and useful to boost the advancement of these two reactions and promote carbon neutralization.

Automated summary

This article analyzes the catalyst design strategies for the reforming of CH4 and electrochemical reduction reaction to produce syngas from CO2. The strategies include improving catalyst properties such as sintering resistance, redox property, basicity, and porosity. The article also compares different design measures for CRR catalysts to increase syngas selectivity. Challenges and future work for these reactions are proposed. The review is timely and useful for advancing these reactions and promoting carbon neutralization.