Taming catalyst stability through nanoscale design for dry reforming of methane: deactivation mechanisms, strategies, and outlook.

The urgent transition to low-carbon energy requires the utilization of CO2-rich natural gas. Dry reforming of methane (DRM) offers a viable carbon-for-carbon pathway for converting CH4 and CO2 into syngas, aligning with carbon neutrality goals. However, rapid catalyst deactivation due to coke formation and sintering remains the primary barrier to practical operation. To provide a systematic view of stabilization strategies, we summarize ten representative strategies and consolidate them into seven nanoscale design categories: encapsulation, alloying, promoter modification, defect and interface engineering, exsolution, single-atomization, and nano-island confinement. Future research directions warranting attention include the development of high-spatiotemporal-resolution in situ and operando techniques for monitoring catalyst structural evolution. Equally significant is the systematic development of multi-strategy synergy in catalyst design, with the incorporation of reaction modulation expected to further refine and extend this paradigm. In addition, bridging laboratory-level insights with industrial stability requirements remains important, particularly with respect to synthesis scalability, regeneration behavior, and practical feasibility in catalyst preparation and implementation. This comprehensive review summarizes deactivation mechanisms and stabilization strategies into a roadmap toward robust DRM catalysis.