The transformation of CO2 or CH4 into alcohols or other hydrocarbon compounds is challenging because of the difficulties associated with the chemical activation of the reactants by heterogeneous catalysts. Pure metals and bimetallic systems used for this task have usually trouble binding CO2 or CH4 and, thus, low catalytic activity. Here, we will discuss a series of in-situ studies investigating the conversion of C1 molecules (CO, CO2 and CH4) on metal/carbide catalysts. They illustrate the advantages of metal-carbide interfaces when aiming at the conversion of CO2 or methane into methanol. Cu/TiC(001) exhibits an activity for the CO2 → CH3OH conversion that is 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than that of a benchmark Cu(111) catalyst. In the Cu-TiC interfaces, the combination of metal and carbide centers affords complementary chemical properties that lead to special reaction pathways for methanol synthesis. Metal-carbide interfaces also can be tune for the activation and conversion of CH4

Fundamental studies of C1 chemistry on novel metal-carbide atalysts

2019 Spring National Meeting

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