Economies of agglomeration

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Sintering

Hydrogen

Composite number

Adsorption

Methanation

Engineering

Catalysis

Carbon fibers

Nanoparticle

Composite material

Syngas

Hydrogen production

Inorganic chemistry

Chemistry

Metallurgy

Materials science

Propane

Oxide

Steam reforming

Nanomaterial-based catalyst

Carbon monoxide

Magnesium

Chemical engineering

Methane

Carbon dioxide reforming

Science

Overcoming surface defects Dry reforming of methane with carbon dioxide creates a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide—synthesis gas—which can be converted into liquid fuels. However, heterogeneous catalysts for this reaction are prone to deactivation through unwanted carbon deposition (coking) and loss of surface area of adsorbed metal nanoparticles through agglomeration (sintering). Y. Song et al. used highly crystalline fumed magnesium oxide to support molybdenumdoped nickel nanoparticle catalysts (see the Perspective by Chen and Xu). On heating, the nanoparticles migrated on the oxide surface to step edges to form larger, highly stable nanoparticles. This process also passivated sites for coking on the oxide to produce a catalyst with high activity and longevity at 800°C. Science , this issue p. 777 ; see also p. 737

Dry reforming of methane by stable Ni–Mo nanocatalysts on single-crystalline MgO