Effect of Support Materials on the Performance of Ru-Based Catalysts for CO2 Methanation

Author : Arkadii Bikbashev

Abstract : Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) methanation has attracted significant attention as an effective technology for CO2 utilization and renewable energy storage through the production of synthetic natural gas. Ruthenium (Ru)-based catalysts are considered among the most promising systems for this reaction due to their excellent hydrogenation ability, high activity at relatively low temperatures, strong resistance to deactivation, and ability to promote efficient CO2 activation and methane formation. However, the catalytic performance of Ru strongly depends on the nature and properties of the support material, which influence metal dispersion, electronic interactions, surface acidity/basicity, and CO2 adsorption capacity. In this study, Ru catalysts supported on SiO2 , CeO2 , and ZrO2 were investigated for CO2 methanation performance. The results demonstrated a significant support effect on catalytic activity and selectivity. Among the studied systems, Ru@ZrO2 exhibited outstanding catalytic behavior, achieving almost 100% CO2 conversion and 100% CH₄ selectivity at 225 °C. The superior performance of Ru@ZrO2 is attributed to favorable metal support interactions, enhanced CO2 activation, and improved dispersion of active Ru species. These findings highlight the crucial role of support engineering in designing highly efficient Ru-based catalysts for low-temperature CO2 methanation

Keywords : Ru (ruthenium), CO2 methanation, supported catalysts, ZrO2 support, metal–support interaction, CO2 conversion, synthetic natural gas.

Conference Name : International Conference on Surface Chemistry and Nanostructured Materials (ICS-CNM-26)

Conference Place : Rome, Italy

Conference Date : 6th Aug 2026