What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to develop a stable single-atom catalyst for dry reforming of methane while preventing coking.

May 25, 2026Journal of the American Chemical Society0 citations

Discovery of a Robust Ru 1 –O–Ce Single Atom Catalyst for Coke-Free Dry Reforming of Methane

JSJiaqi SiInstitute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry MHMengtao HuangInstitute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry XZXueling ZhangShanxi Medical University

Key Points

This research aims to develop a stable single-atom catalyst for dry reforming of methane while preventing coking.
Discovery of a Ru1–O–Ce single-atom catalyst tested over 600 hours at varying conditions.
Anchoring Ru1–O–Ce sites on Al2O3 to assess catalytic stability at 750 °C for 2000 hours.
Conducting mechanistic studies to examine CH4 and CO2 interactions.
Achieved over 600 hours of stability for DRM with Ru1–O–Ce catalyst and a conversion rate of 40–225 L gcat–1 h–1.
Converted CH4/CO2 approaching thermodynamic equilibrium at high temperatures with no detectable coking.
Demonstrated effective activation of CO2 and resiliency of Ru1–O–Ce sites through the creation of oxygen vacancies.

Abstract

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) represents a key route for CO2 utilization and methane valorization, yet catalyst coking and sintering under harsh conditions limits its large-scale application. Here, we discover a single-atom catalyst featuring Ru1–O–Ce sites that operates stably for DRM over 600 h at 40–225 L gcat–1 h–1 without detectable coking. Further anchoring Ru1–O–Ce sites on commercial particulate Al2O3 enables 2000-h catalytic stability at 750 °C, with CH4/CO2 conversions approaching thermodynamic equilibrium. Mechanistic studies reveal that Ru1–O–Ce sites partially dissociate methane at Ru1, and CHx species react with nearby O atoms to form CHxO intermediates; CO2 is efficiently activated at formed oxygen vacancies to restore Ru1–O–Ce sites. This bifunctional behavior aligns CH4 and CO2 activation, ensuring coke-free DRM progression and opening new avenues for designing stable, effective single-atom catalysts for methane reforming.

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