S1 ISSN 0965-5441, Petroleum Chemistry, 2019, Vol. 59, Suppl. 1, pp. S1–S20. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2019. New Approaches to the Design of Nickel, Cobalt, and Nickel–Cobalt Catalysts for Partial Oxidation and Dry Reforming of Methane to Synthesis Gas I. I. Moiseev a, b, c , A. S. Loktev a, b, c, * , **, O. A. Shlyakhtin d , G. N. Mazo d , and A. G. Dedov a, b, c a Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Moscow, 119071 Russia b Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991 Russia c Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071 Russia d Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia *e-mail: genchem@gubkin.ru **e-mail: al57@rambler.ru Received August 7, 2019; revised August 25, 2019; accepted September 6, 2019 Abstract—New approaches to the formation of active, selective, and stable Ni, Co, and Ni–Co catalysts for partial oxidation and dry reforming of methane into synthesis gas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon mon- oxide) are considered. Keywords: synthesis gas, partial oxidation of methane, dry reforming of methane, nickel, cobalt, perovskite- like oxides, mesoporous materials, zeolites, magnesium–aluminum hydrotalcite DOI: 10.1134/S0965544119130115 INTRODUCTION The selective catalytic reforming of methane to synthesis gas (syngas) is a key stage in the production of a variety of petrochemicals and alternative fuel components from natural gas [1–11]. According to experts, it is the syngas manufacturing process that drives about 70% of costs in the chain of production of petrochemicals from methane. Any improvement in the syngas production process is a desirable task. Teams of leading world and Russian research centers are permanently working on its solution. The main industrial process for producing synthe- sis gas—steam methane reforming—is highly endo- thermic and, as a result, energy-consuming. The resulting syngas with a ratio of H 2 /CO = 3 cannot be directly used for the production of petrochemicals. A more convenient composition of the synthesis gas is achieved in the processes of methane dry reforming— (H 2 /CO = 1) or partial oxidation—(H 2 /CO = 2). The latter process is also less energy consuming due to exo- thermicity. The embodiment of the process of dry reforming of methane (DRM) has attracted increasing attention of researchers around the world, since two main green- house gases carbon-dioxide and methane- are utilized in this process. This, in turn, contributes to solving the problem of global warming. In addition, the DRM process is considered as a promising way to obtain pet- rochemical products from the renewable feedstock biogas [12]. However, the realization of partial oxidation and dry reforming of methane into the industry is largely hampered by the lack of appropriate stable and selec- tive catalysts. The implemented process of partial oxi- dation of methane (POM) proceeds as a noncatalytic reaction above 1100°C [1–3]. Known POM and DRM catalysts contain active sites formed by Group VIII metals, mainly nickel [1– 11]. Numerous data on the use of catalysts based on platinum group metals are mainly of theoretical inter- est due to their high cost. At the same time, nickel cat- alysts are capable of catalyzing the formation of carbo- naceous deposits (especially during the DRM process) and, in addition, are prone to strong interaction with the support, which can cause the formation of com- pounds that are inactive in catalysis. To overcome these drawbacks, catalysts are often promoted with platinum group metals, which significantly increase their cost. In some cases, it is possible to increase the stability of nickel catalysts by doping with cobalt or other nonprecious metals; however, their activity is often reduced. A significant number of research papers and review articles are published annually on the search for new approaches to the design of active, selective, and stable POM and DRM catalysts of various natures. In this