Plasma-assisted reduction of a NiO/Al2O3 catalyst in atmospheric pressure H2/Ar dielectric barrier discharge

Plasma-assisted reduction of a NiO/Al2O3 catalyst has been carried out in a H2/Ar dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure and low temperature (<300 °C). The time evolution of H2 consumption, the gaseous products, as well as the discharge power and temperature during the plasma reduction of NiO/Al2O3 have been investigated to get a better understanding of the reduction mechanisms involved in the plasma process. The effect of the Ni conductive metal sites on the physical characteristics of the H2/Ar discharge has also been examined. The results show that the discharge power linearly increases during the plasma-reduction process, accompanied by an increase in transferred charge from 88 nC to 119 nC due to the formation of more conductive metallic Ni in the discharge gap. It is also found that plasma reduction does not change the size of Ni particles.