Mechanistic Insight into C–C Coupling over Fe–Cu Bimetallic Catalysts in CO2 Hydrogenation

Abstract

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to investigate the mechanism of CO2 hydrogenation in production of C1 and C2 hydrocarbons over Cu–Fe bimetallic catalyst. CH* is found to be the most favorable monomeric species for production of CH4 and C2H4 via C–C coupling of two CH* species and subsequent hydrogenation. On the bimetallic Cu–Fe(100) surface at 4/9 ML Cu coverage, the energetically preferred path for CH* formation goes through CO2* → HCOO* → HCOOH* → HCO* → HCOH* → CH*, in which both the HCOO* → HCOOH* and HCO* → HCOH* steps have substantial barriers. The bimetallic surface suppresses CH4 formation and is more selective to C2H4 due to the higher hydrogenation barrier of CH2* species relative to those for C–C coupling and CH–CH* conversion to C2H4. On monometallic Fe(100) surface, CH* formation goes through a path of CO2* → CO* → HCO* → HCOH* → CH*, different from that identified on Cu–Fe(100). The hydrogenation of HCO* to HCOH* is the rate-limiting step that controls CO2 conv...