Atomically dispersed metals as potential coke-resistant catalysts for dry reforming of methane

Dry reforming of methane, the reforming of methane with carbon dioxide to produce syngas, is important within the chemical industry and has aroused wide interest from both industrial and academic fields. Many research efforts have been devoted to the development of catalysts with both excellent activity and stability. One of the most common and critical issues for traditional nickel-based catalysts is severe deactivation due to carbon deposition. Recently, atomically dispersed metals have been found to be promising coke-resistant catalysts for dry reforming of methane due to their superior catalytic activity and high resistance to carbon deposition. This review focuses on the latest developments of atomically dispersed metal catalysts based on nickel, as well as noble metals, for dry reforming of methane. Recent understanding of the mechanisms underlying the coke-resistant properties is illustrated, and the critical challenges and perspectives for the future development of atomically dispersed catalysts are summarized.