Customizing copper structure via controlled exsolution of CuAl2O4 for enhanced CO2 hydrogenation to methanol
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)Graphical Abstract
Abstract
CO2 hydrogenation over Cu-based catalysts has the potential to enable green methanol synthesis. A unique reduction-exsolution strategy based on CuAl2O4 spinel is proposed to significantly enhance the structural tunability and catalytic performance of Cu-based catalysts. In-situ characterization demonstrates that this strategy can synthesize catalysts featuring uniform dispersed Cu particles, abundant surface Cu+ species and oxygen vacancies, and superior methanol selectivity and yields. By exploiting CuAl2O4 as the precursor, this reduction-exsolution strategy also enriches Cu/oxide interfacial sites, on which the methanol yield of optimized ZnO/CuAl2O4 catalyst has surpassed that of a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst. Detailed structure-performance correlations highlight the broad applicability of this design principle, offering new avenues for developing efficient Cu-based catalysts.
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Electronic Supplementary Material
References
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