In this study, CeO2 nanorods rich in oxygen vacancies were synthesized via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MW) method. Ni catalysts supported on these nanorods were subsequently synthesized and evaluated for CO2 methanation. The Ni/CeO2 nanorod catalyst synthesized at an optimal MW power of 400 W exhibited the highest activity, achieving 76% CO2 conversion with 100% CH4 selectivity at a low temperature of 225 degrees C, outperforming the catalysts synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis (XCO2 = 33%) and those based on the commercial CeO2 (XCO2 = 61%). Furthermore, a 1,000-hour durability test confirmed the excellent stability of the Ni/CeO2 nanorod MW catalyst, with negligible carbon deposition and Ni sintering. The superior performance is attributed to the high concentration of oxygen vacancies generated by rapid nanorod growth under MW conditions, which enhances metal-support interaction that suppresses Ni nanoparticle agglomeration and enhances Ni dispersion. The MW method enables the formation of CeO2 nanorods within 30 min, significantly shorter than the 24 h required for conventional hydrothermal synthesis. This work highlights microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis as an energy-efficient strategy for producing oxygen-vacancy-rich CeO2 nanorods for CO2 valorization.
This study investigates the chemical modification of commercial-grade (Hero) magnesium oxide (MgO) via an acid-assisted hydrothermal (HT) treatment to enhance the performance of a nickel-molybdenum (NiMo) catalyst for the co-production of syngas and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from biogas reforming. Nanoplate-structured magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) was obtained through structural reconstruction and surface modification using an optimum nitric acid concentration of 3 M. The resulting NiMo/MgO (Hero) HT 3 M catalyst achieved high CO2 and CH4 conversions of 96.14 % and 74.51 %, respectively, at 800 °C and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 48,000 mL/g⋅h. The products, comprising syngas and CNTs, reached high yields of 95.58 % and 26.14 %, respectively, over 3 h of time-on-stream (TOS), substantially outperforming the untreated MgO counterpart, which yielded 72.34 % syngas and 17.95 % CNTs. Characterization revealed that the modified nanoplates contained abundant –OH groups and structural defects, resulting in improved metal dispersion, enhanced reducibility and a higher density of basic sites. These findings highlight that this facile acid-assisted hydrothermal treatment is an effective approach to modifying low-cost MgO supports, thereby improving catalyst performance and offering a cost-effective strategy for efficient biogas utilization.
Purpose This study aims to investigate the effects of franchisor support and communication on franchisees’ trust in the franchisor and satisfaction with the franchise partnership, thereby positively influencing their perceived operational and financial performance. Previous studies have provided empirical evidence of communication and support as key in nurturing franchise partnerships. Yet, both factors have not been investigated together in a single study to explore franchisees’ experiences with the franchisor and the franchise system. Therefore, this study employs Social Exchange Theory as a theoretical foundation to examine the effects of franchisor communication and support on franchisees’ trust, satisfaction, and overall franchise performance. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was conducted with 221 franchisees of a leading café franchise brand from Thailand, invited through online franchise business communities. Findings Both communication and support enhance franchisees’ trust in a franchisor and satisfaction with the franchise partnership. Satisfaction then positively influences franchisees’ perceived performance. Specifically, through satisfaction, the effect of trust on franchisees’ performance is enhanced. Originality/value This study first highlights that both perceived support and communication are expected from the franchisor, from the franchisees’ perspective. Positive evaluations of these lead to their trust in a franchisor and satisfaction with the franchise partnership, influencing their perceived performance. Then, it shows that trust in a franchisor is the underlying mechanism, enhancing the effects of franchisor communication and support on franchisees’ satisfaction with the franchise partnership. Finally, satisfaction with the franchise partnership serves as a link between their trust in a franchisor and their perceived performance.
