Carbon dioxide methanation over Ni catalysts supported on various metal oxides

[Display omitted] •Nickel catalysts supported on various metal oxides were prepared.•The activity of nickel catalysts for CO2 methanation was evaluated.•The Ni/Y2O3 catalyst exhibited the highest activity.•The reaction mainly proceeded via the formation of formate over Ni/Y2O3. Carbon dioxide methanation is well known to offer some advantages and be catalyzed by Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ni. In this study, Ni catalysts supported on various metal oxides were fabricated and their catalytic activity for CO2 methanation was evaluated. The CO2 conversion for most of catalysts drastically increased at 225–250°C and reached a maximal value at 300–350°C. The order of CH4 yield at 250°C was as follows: Ni/Y2O3>Ni/Sm2O3>Ni/ZrO2>Ni/CeO2>Ni/Al2O3>Ni/La2O3. The catalytic activity could be partly explained by the basic property of the catalysts. Moreover, the chemical species formed on the catalyst surface during CO2 methanation were examined by in situ infrared spectroscopy. From the obtained results, the difference in the activity depending on the support material of Ni catalysts was discussed.