Photothermal Methanation of CO with Benzyl Alcohol as a Hydrogen Source Using Au–Ni Alloy Catalyst

The CO methanation process finds extensive application in natural gas synthesis, typically relying on hydrogen as the primary reducing agent. However, due to significant transportation hazards and associated high costs, direct hydrogen utilization is constrained. This study endeavors to realize CO hydrogenation using Au–Ni alloy nanoparticles in conjunction with alcohols as the hydrogen source. The Au–Ni/C system exhibits commendable CO adsorption and activation capabilities, yielding a noteworthy CO conversion rate of 94.1% and an impressive 98.5% selectivity for C1 products. We posit that this approach offers a pragmatic and straightforward means of effecting CO methanation under mildly photothermal conditions, holding considerable promise for real-world applications.