Flexible hollow Ni/Al2O3 fibers: A sustainable and reusable catalyst for efficient dry reforming of methane

Abstract

A new type of Ni/Al2O3 self‐supporting catalysts, with high specific surface area, was fabricated by blow‐spinning technology. These Ni/Al2O3 self‐supporting catalysts are hollow flexible fibers and were utilized for the dry reforming of methane. The Ni/Al2O3 catalysts exhibited exceptional catalytic performance, maintaining their activity for over 150‐h at a high temperature of 800°C. The Ni nanoparticles disputed on the hollow fibers demonstrated remarkable resistance to sintering and coking during high‐temperature catalysis. This was a noteworthy feature, as sintering and coking are common challenges faced by catalysts during high‐temperature reactions. Furthermore, the catalysts retained its activity even after a rigorous 150‐h test at 800°C, indicating its durability and stability. Importantly, the Ni/Al2O3 self‐supporting could be successfully reactivated after the test, further highlighting its reusable nature. This study offers promising new avenues for the development of high‐temperature, self‐supporting, and reactivatable catalysts.