CO2 methanation property of Ru nanoparticle-loaded TiO2 prepared by a polygonal barrel-sputtering method

Highly dispersed Ru nanoparticles loaded on a TiO2 support (Ru/TiO2(B)), which affects the hydrogenation of CO2 to CH4 (methanation), were prepared by employing a “dry” modification method using a barrel-sputtering instrument. The loaded Ru nanoparticles exhibited a narrow particle-size distribution with a mean diameter of ca. 2.5 nm. Methanation of CO2 on the Ru/TiO2(B) catalyst produced a 100% yield at ca. 160 °C, which is more than 200 °C below that required for Ru/TiO2 prepared by a conventional “wet” impregnation method. In addition, the methanation reaction over Ru/TiO2(B) proceeded at temperatures as low as room temperature with a reaction rate of 0.04 µmol min−1 g−1.