Mechanical vibration reactor achieves CO2 methanation assisted by ruthenium modified nickel milling balls

[Display omitted] •This work pioneers a new mechanical approach for continuous gas flow reaction.•Ru/Ni presents a highest CH4 yield of 15995.6 h−1 and 200 h lifetime without deactivation.•The well dispersion of Ru species exhibit intact structure on Ni substrate.•Formates/carbonates are the main intermediates and Ru mainly boosts hydrogenation steps. A mechano-catalysis approach is introduced into “heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase reaction” with continuous gas flow, and Ruthenium (Ru) doped Nickel (Ni) milling balls (Ru/Ni) serve as CO2 methanation catalyst. Under mechanical vibration conditions, Ru/Ni presented a state-of-the-art TOFCH4 of 15995.6 h−1 and higher CH4 selectivity (>95%) at 340 ∼ 390 ℃. Compared with conventional Ru-Ni/Al2O3 catalyst, Ru/Ni also exhibited intact Ru-Ni structure without deactivation and coke formation over 200 hrs. The surface and spatial distribution of Ru species on Ni substrate were studied by XRD, SEM, XPS, TOF-SIMS and XANES. In situ DRIFTs were also conducted to examine the reaction intermediates and boosting impact of Ru species on hydrogenation ability, and the advantages of mechanical vibration reactor for CO2 methanation are proposed finally. This work pioneers a new idea for low energy consumption and high efficiency CO2 hydrogenation.