Coking and metal sintering are limitations of large-scale applications of Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts in DRM reactions. In this review, several modification strategies to enhance the anti-deactivation property of Ni/Al₂O₃ are proposed and discussed with the recently developed catalyst systems, including structure and morphology control, surface acidity/basicity, interfacial engineering and oxygen defects. In addition, the structure–performance relationship and deactivation/anti-deactivation mechanisms are illustrated in depth, followed by prospects for future work.

The greenhouse effect is leading to global warming and destruction of the ecological environment. The conversion of carbon dioxide and methane greenhouse gases into valuable substances has attracted scientists’ attentions. Dry reforming of methane (DRM) alleviates environmental problems and converts CO₂ and CH₄ into valuable chemical substances; however, due to the high energy input to break the strong chemical bonds in CO₂ and CH₄, non-thermal plasma (NTP) catalyzed DRM has been promising in activating CO₂ at ambient conditions, thus greatly lowering the energy input; moreover, the synergistic effect of the catalyst and plasma improves the reaction efficiency. In this review, the recent developments of catalytic DRM in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor on Ni-based catalysts are summarized, including the concept, characteristics, generation, and types of NTP used for catalytic DRM and corresponding mechanisms, the synergy and performance of Ni-based catalysts with DBD plasma, the design of DBD reactor and process parameter optimization, and finally current challenges and future prospects are provided.

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction has drawn much interest due to the reduction of greenhouse gases and production of syngas. Coking and sintering have hindered the large-scale operations of Ni-based catalysts in DRM reactions at high temperatures. Smart designs of Ni-based catalysts are comprehensively summarized in fourth aspects: surface regulation, oxygen defects, interfacial engineering, and structural optimization. In each part, details of the designs and anti-deactivation mechanisms are elucidated, followed by a summary of the main points and the recommended strategies to improve the catalytic performance, energy efficiency, and utilization rate.