Ni/CeO2 prepared by improved polyol method for DRM with highly dispersed Ni

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) of Ni‐based catalysts is a hot method to solve greenhouse gas problems. The improved polyol method could overcome the disadvantage of Ni agglomerate sintering by the impregnation method. In this work, Ni/CeO2 catalysts were prepared by an improved polyol method with different CeO2 support and applied for methane dry reforming, which showed excellent catalytic activity and stability. The X‐ray power diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), H2 temperature‐programmed reduction (H2‐TPR) were used to study the composition of Ni species, the Ni‐CeO2 interaction, and Ni dispersion, while textural properties, oxygen vacancy, and the behavior of CO2 adsorption and activity were research by N2 adsorption and desorption, Raman and CO2‐TPD. There in, Ni/CeO2‐R showed excellent catalytic activity (CH4 and CO2 conversion: 61.8% and 96.5%; H2/CO radio: 0.93) and remained stable after the 50‐hr stability test. Meanwhile, the formation and graphitization of deposited carbon were observed and studied by XRD, Raman, TG/DTA, and TEM, and the cause of the deactivation of the catalyst was analyzed. This work studied and demonstrated the advantages of the improved polyol method and the differences between different CeO2 supports and provided a new idea for the construction of the catalyst for methane dry reforming. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.