MOF-derived NiFe@C catalysts for the methanation of CO2 under dynamic H2 dropout conditions

When atmospheric CO2 and H2 from electrocatalytic water splitting are combined, methane production from renewable resources represents a promising route to a sustainable, climate-friendly energy supply. In the scope of a fluctuating supply of renewable energy, catalyst systems are needed where the catalytic properties are not affected by a volatile hydrogen availability. For this purpose, a series of bimetallic NiFe@C catalysts derived from a metal-organic framework (MOF) precursor were prepared, which consist of NiFe nanoparticles surrounded by a porous carbon shell. These catalysts were studied under different reaction conditions and the most promising system was used in dynamic H2 dropout scenarios. All bimetallic catalysts with high nickel to iron ratios featured a high activity in the methanation of CO2 at different reaction conditions. Under full H2 dropout conditions, the investigated NiFe@C catalysts exhibit superior catalytic behavior compared to monometallic Ni@C and did not show any significant deactivation.