Atomic surface reconfiguration on nickel oxide unlocks tenfold boost in catalytic methane conversion

Materials scientists discovered an unexpected atomic restructuring that occurs on nickel oxide during high-temperature methane reforming. The dynamic surface configuration proves vastly more reactive than traditional metallic nickel, enabling a low-loading catalyst to match the output of conventional formulations containing ten times more precious metal.

ScienceDaily · Sep 9, 2026 · Physics