Highly Efficient CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol over the Mesostructured Cu/AlZnO Catalyst

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, the mesostructured Cu/AlZnO catalysts were prepared for the CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. Experimental results showed that the weight ratio of Al2O3 and ZnO affected the morphology of the mesoporous AlZnO supports and surface properties of the mesostructured Cu/AlZnO catalysts. The AlZnO‐9 (the Al2O3 mass within the AlZnO support was 90 wt%) with loose spongy porous structure and high surface area facilitated the Cu nanoparticle dispersion. Thus, the Cu/AlZnO‐9 catalyst showed higher exposed Cu surface area (SCu) and more exposed CO2 adsorption sites, which accelerated the CO2 conversion. Meanwhile, the ZnO added into catalysts increased the strength of surface basicity and the surface concentration of Zn species, which promoted the catalytic activity of CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. In addition, the well mesostructure heightened the stability of supported Cu catalyst due to the high dispersion of Cu nanoparticles.