Pulsed Laser Induced Plasma and Thermal Effects on Molybdenum Carbide for Dry Reforming of Methane

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a highly endothermic process, with its development hindered by the harsh thermocatalytic conditions required. We propose an innovative DRM approach utilizing a 16 W pulsed laser in combination with a cost-effective MoC catalyst, enabling DRM under milder conditions. The pulsed laser serves a dual function by inducing localized high temperatures and generating CH plasma on the MoC surface. This activates CH and CO, significantly accelerating the DRM reaction. Notably, the laser directly generates CH plasma from CH through thermionic emission and cascade ionization, bypassing the traditional step-by-step dehydrogenation process and eliminating the rate-limiting step of methane cracking. This method maintains a carbon-oxygen balanced environment, thus preventing the deactivation of the MoC catalyst due to CO oxidation. The laser-catalytic DRM achieves high yields of H (14300.8 mmol h g) and CO (14949.9 mmol h g) with satisfactory energy efficiency (0.98 mmol kJ), providing a promising alternative for high-energy-consuming catalytic systems.