Copper–Zinc Alloy-Free Synthesis of Methanol from Carbon Dioxide over Cu/ZnO/Faujasite
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Date
2020-12-04Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 9 times in
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Cited 10 times in
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Abstract
The mechanism of carbon dioxide hydrogenation to methanol over Cu/ZnO materials has been explored for decades; however, the question of the active site still remains open to discussion. We used operando time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and time-resolved isotope labeling experiments coupled with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis to elucidate the reaction mechanism and study the active sites and intermediates over a Cu/ZnO catalyst during carbon dioxide conversion into methanol. No reduction of the zinc oxide or formation of a copper–zinc alloy was observed even under highly reducing conditions (15 bar of hydrogen, 260 °C), which leads to the conclusion that a copper–zinc alloy phase is not required for high methanol yields and selectivity to be obtained. We attribute the reactive superiority of the copper–zinc-based system to the interplay between copper and zinc oxide phases. Our synthesis protocol provides a way to produce this copper–zinc oxide interface, without having to go through an alloy phase. © 2020 American Chemical Society Show more
Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
ACS CatalysisVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
American Chemical SocietySubject
CO2 hydrogenation; Methanol; CuZn alloy; Operando XAS; Cu/ZnO catalyst; Isotope labeling experimentOrganisational unit
03746 - Van Bokhoven, Jeroen A. / Van Bokhoven, Jeroen A.
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Show all metadata
Citations
Cited 9 times in
Web of Science
Cited 10 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics