The selective CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is a promising process for establishing a methanol economy and recycling CO2. The industrial process for this reaction currently uses Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts in a gas mixture consisting of H2, CO and CO2. Although this process is known for many years, the reaction mechanism and the active phase involved in the reaction remain under debate. Using size-controlled micellar Cu and CuM NPs as target material systems, I will describe the role of the NP composition (M=Zn, Ni, Ga) and the oxide support (ZnOAl, SiO2, Al2O3) on the activity, selectivity and stability of the catalysts based on in situ and operando microscopy and spectroscopy methods including NAP-XPS, XAS, XRD, E-TEM and E-SEM. The reactivity studies were conducted in a bed-fixed mass flow reactor coupled to an online gas chromatograph. The structure sensitivity of this reaction, in particular, the role of the nanoparticle shape, will also be discussed. For this purpose, cubic Cu particles primarily exposing (001) facets have been prepared and supported on ZnO. In addition, to further explore the significance of the Cu-Zn interaction, ZnO overlayers were also grown on Cu cubes supported on ZrO2. The morphological and chemical evolution of these catalysts will be illustrated. Furthermore, interesting trends between the nanoparticle structure and the preferred reaction pathway towards either methanol formation or the reverse-water-gas shift will be revealed.

Size, shape, composition and support effects in Cu-based nanocatalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.