This paper reports the investigation on the roles of light and catalyst support of nickel supported on varied ratios of mixed ceria and titania, Ni/CexTiyO2 catalyst in the photothermal methanation of CO2. The research considers in-depth the Ni/CexTiyO2 system for the purpose of understanding the role of light and heat. The two effects (light and heat) were decoupledIn the attempt to examine the dominant effects in the photothermal system.  

Experimental result showed that overall the performance of the photothermal system is governed by three interlinked factors: (i) reactor temperature; (ii) nickel reducibility; and (iii) the exothermic nature of the methanation reaction. When all three are in-sync, a 'snow-ball' effect is aparent the the photothermal system is able to demonstrate its potentials. The findings reported here highlight the importance of catalyst design in photothermal system.

Read more in Prog. Nat. Sci.: Mater. Inter., 2018, In press (doi: 10.1016/j.pnsc.2018.02.004) Open Access

Proposed mechanism of snowball effect