One-step Hydrothermal Synthesis of Unsupported Nickel Phosphide Catalyst for Direct Dehydrogenative Conversion of Methane to Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Unsupported Ni₂P catalysts synthesized by the hydrothermal method were studied for the direct dehydrogenative conversion of methane to hydrocarbons. The unsupported Ni₂P catalyst showed smaller crystallite size and porous surface structure due to the absence of calcination and reduction at higher temperatures and performed better catalytic activity at 1173 K. It has been found that the simple hydrothermal method was effective for the synthesis of active unsupported Ni₂P catalyst.