Abstract The supported Ni catalyst has been used for many reactions for its high activity and selectivity, low price and abundance in nature. But the application is limited for its coke, sintering and poisoning. Plasma, an efficient and green technology, can solved the problems effectively, for its influence on the decomposition of metal salt and on the crystal nucleation and growth. Ni particle size is smaller, Ni dispersion is higher and Ni atom is enriched on the surface when the catalyst is prepared via plasma. Therefore the catalyst shows higher activity compared to the calcined catalyst. The surface of Ni particle prepared by plasma shows single lattice plane (Ni(111)), which limits the coke formation and H2S adsorption and leads to excellent resistance to coke formation and sulfur poisoning. The interaction of metal and support of plasma-treated catalyst is strengthened, thus the migration of Ni particle is limited, and the resistance to Ni sintering is enhanced.
