Effects of solar irradiation on thermally driven CO2 methanation using Ni/CeO2–based catalyst

Utilization of the renewable energy sources is one main challenges in state-of-the-art technologies for CO2 recycling. Here we have taken advantage solar light harvesting thermocatalytic approach to carbon dioxide methanation. The large-surface-area Ni/CeO2 catalyst produced by a scalable low-cost method was characterized and tested dark under irradiation conditions. Light-assisted conversion experiments as well in-situ DRIFT spectrometry, performed at different illumination intensities, revealed dual effect incident photons on catalytic properties two-component catalyst. On hand, absorbed induce localized surface plasmon resonance Ni nanoparticles followed dissipation heat oxide matrix. other activates photocatalytic CeO2 support, which leads an increase concentration intermediates being precursor methane production. Analysis production temperatures conditions has shown that methanation reaction our case controlled photothermally-activated process. used allowed us rate up 2.4 times consequently decrease power consumption 20 % illumination, thus replacing conventional thermal activation with green source.