Effect of atomic layer deposited zinc promoter on the activity of copper-on-zirconia catalysts in the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to methanol

Aitor Arandia (Corresponding Author), J. Yim, H. Warraich, E. Leppäkangas, R. Bes, A. Lempelto, L. Gell, H. Jiang, K. Meinander, T. Viinikainen, S. Huotari, K. Honkala, R.L. Puurunen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The development of active catalysts for carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation to methanol is intimately related to the creation of effective metal-oxide interfaces. In this work, we investigated how the order of addition of copper and zinc on zirconia influences the catalytic properties, the catalytic activity and selectivity toward methanol. Regarding the carbon dioxide conversion and methanol production, the catalysts on which the promoter (zinc) was atomically deposited after copper impregnation (i.e., ZnO/Cu/ZrO 2 and ZnO/Cu/ZnO/ZrO2) were superior catalysts compared to the reverse copper-after-zinc catalyst (Cu/ZnO/ZrO2). Temperature-programmed experiments and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform-spectroscopy (DRIFTS) experiments allowed us to elucidate the benefits of the zinc-after-copper pair to store CO2 as carbonate species and further convert them into formate species, key intermediates in the formation of methanol. This research provides insights into the potential of atomic layer deposition in the development of tailored heterogeneous catalysts for efficient CO2 valorization to methanol.

Original languageEnglish
Article number122046
JournalApplied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume321
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Atomic layer deposition
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Copper
  • Hydrogenation
  • Methanol
  • Zinc oxide

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