Nickel Catalysts for C₁ Reactions: Recollections from a Career in Heterogeneous Catalysis

This paper presents a brief review of some research projects carried out in the author’s laboratories over a number of years. The work reported concerns the use of nickel-containing catalysts for a range of C₁ reactions: the steam reforming of methane, the methanation of CO, the oxidative coupling of methane and the dry reforming of methane. A number of novel catalysts have been developed in the course of this work, mostly in collaborative projects with industrial organisations, and some of the background to this work is discussed. The paper emphasises the importance in work of the type described of the establishment of contacts between the academic laboratory and industrial researchers such as Mike Spencer.