CuCl_2和HY分子筛的表面反应及Cu/Y分子筛的制备及其催化甲醇氧化羰基化（英文）

以CuCl2为前驱物与HY分子筛进行固相离子交换制备了Cu/Y催化剂,采用热重方法研究了CuCl2与HY分子筛的表面固相离子交换反应,结合活性测试表明催化剂中高度分散的CuCl和离子交换形式的Cu+物种是甲醇氧化羰基化合成碳酸二甲酯的催化活性中心.X射线光电子能谱表征和元素分析结果表明,活性金属Cu主要以CuCl形式存在于分子筛外表面,而在分子筛笼内则以交换的Cu+和少量吸附的CuCl形式存在.与以CuCl为交换铜源所制催化剂相比,以CuCl2为铜源制备的催化剂Cu含量低,催化活性更高.     

CuY制备方法对其催化甲醇氧化羰基化活性中心的影响

以Cu(NO₃)₂为铜源,以NaY和HY分子筛为载体,通过溶液离子交换法和等体积浸渍法制备了不同的无氯CuY催化剂,并进行了气相甲醇氧化羰基化催化活性研究。通过浸渍法制备的催化剂Cu含量为10%,而以NaY和铜氨溶液离子交换制备的催化剂Cu含量只有6.3%,但其催化活性和选择性均较好。通过催化剂的Cu元素分析、低温氮吸附-脱附、XRD、H₂-TPR、XPS和TPD等表征表明,溶液离子交换法制备的催化剂,Cu物种以离子的形式高度分散于分子筛骨架结构中,较好地保持了分子筛晶体结构,并对甲醇有较强的吸附能力,催化活性较高,而将等体积浸渍Cu(NO₃)₂溶液后的HY或NaY分子筛,在400 ℃焙烧过程中,发生了固体离子交换反应,形成了连接于分子筛骨架的Cu²⁺,但以HY为载体更容易进行固体离子交换,未交换的铜物种以CuO的形式分散到分子筛表面。在600 ℃高温活化中,催化剂中Cu²⁺可部分还原为活性物质Cu⁺,但以NaY和铜氨溶液离子交换制备的催化剂Cu²⁺自还原能力最大。     

Cu的负载方法对CuSAPO-34脱除柴油车尾气中NOx的影响

采用X射线衍射、扫描电镜、原子吸收、程序升温还原、X射线吸收近边吸收谱、X射线光电子能谱、氮吸附等手段对水热合成(HS)、等体积浸渍(PVI)与离子交换(IE)法制备的CuSAPO-34样品进行了表征,并评价了老化前后催化剂上C₃H₆-SCR与NH₃-SCR脱除模拟柴油车尾气中NO_x的反应活性.结果表明,IE法制得的催化剂活性最高,尤其在C₃H₆-SCR低温阶段;PVI法制得的催化剂活性最差.制备方法影响CuSAPO-34催化剂的比表面积、孔径分布和活性组分价态从而改变其催化活性.各催化剂均存在Cu⁺和Cu²⁺,但比例明显不同.HS样品以Cu²⁺为主,另两种样品则含较多的Cu⁺.老化不仅部分破坏了分子筛的形貌、降低了分子筛的比表面积,尤其是表面Cu含量,而且有部分Cu生成了CuSO₄,使得老化后催化剂的脱硝活性降低.PVI法制得的催化剂老化后活性下降幅度最小,表明该分子筛抗老化能力较强.     

预处理气氛对CuO/CeO2/γ-Al2O3催化剂表面性质及“NO+CO”反应性能的影响

用不同的预处理气氛制备了CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃载体以调节表面Ce的价态,并以Cu(CH₃COO)₂为前驱体制备了CuCeAl催化剂。XRD和H₂-TPR的结果表明在还原气氛下处理的CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃载体具有更多的活性氧原子,因此相应的CuCeAl催化剂表面有更多分散态的Cu²⁺/Cu⁺物种。NO+CO反应的结果表明分散态的Cu²⁺/Cu⁺是NO转化的活性物质,而Cu⁰在低温下具有较好的N₂选择性。因此,同时含有分散态Cu²⁺/Cu⁺和少量晶相Cu⁰的催化剂具有最好的催化性能。     

Cu(I)Y分子筛表面酸性对其吸附脱硫性能的影响

用固相离子交换(SSIE)和液相离子交换(LPIE)法制备了不同离子交换度的Cu(I)Y分子筛, 采用吡啶吸附红外光谱(Py-IR)表征了分子筛的表面酸性, 并用固定床吸附穿透实验评价了分子筛的吸附脱硫性能. 结果表明, 不同的离子交换法改性后, Cu(I)Y分子筛仍然保持了完整的Y型分子筛结构. Cu⁺的交换量和表面酸性的分布显著地影响分子筛的吸附脱硫性能, 固相离子交换后随离子交换度的增加, 分子筛表面Brönsted (B)酸逐渐转化为Lewis (L)酸, 吸附性能增强. 对不同离子交换法制备的Cu(I)Y分子筛吸附脱硫性能与表面酸性关联后, 发现分子筛表面B酸量减少, 提高了分子筛的吸附脱硫活性.     

Cu-ETS-10催化NH3选择性还原NOx性能

采用离子交换法制备了Cu-ETS-10钛硅分子筛催化剂,该催化剂对于NH₃选择性催化还原（SCR）NO_x反应具有较高的催化活性、N₂选择性和抗SO₂性能.结果表明,Cu-ETS-10钛硅分子筛具有丰富的微孔结构和较高的比表面积（288-380m²/g）;原子发射光谱、程序升温还原技术和原位红外漫反射等表征结果表明,Cu在Cu-ETS-10钛硅分子筛中具有多种存在形态,其中Cu²⁺物种为Cu-ETS-10的活性中心,其含量随Cu含量的增加而先增后降,与催化活性的变化趋势一致.     

NH4+交换度对 CuY催化剂上甲醇氧化羰基化反应性能的影响

碳酸二甲酯(DMC)是一种应用极其广泛的绿色化工产品,其中经济、绿色的甲醇氧化羰基化合成 DMC工艺极具工业前景,而 Y分子筛负载铜(CuY)是有效催化剂之一.众所周知, CuY催化剂上的 Cu+是催化活性中心. Cu+催化活性中心的引入方式用两种：(1) CuCl直接与 HY分子筛固相离子交换;(2) Cu2+与 NaY分子筛溶液离子交换,然后 Cu2+自还原生成活性中心 Cu+.在无溶剂条件下制备 CuY催化剂时,载体 HY分子筛中的可交换位 H+量是决定催化剂 CuY氧化羰基化催化性能的关键因素.文献通过以不同硅铝比的 HY分子筛为载体制备的催化剂 CuY,研究铜离子可交换位 H+量对氧化羰基化的影响,然而,硅铝比的不同也直接影响了分子筛骨架的组成、Si–O–Al的键角、甚至影响了 Al3+的分散度,这些因素都直接影响了 CuY催化剂活性.因此,研究 NaNH4Y分子筛载体中的可交换位(NH4+)的量与 CuY催化剂活性间的关系具有非常重要的意义.本文将 NaY分子筛与不同浓度的 NH4NO3溶液进行离子交换,制得具有不同 NH4+交换度的 NaNH4Y分子筛,以其为载体,以具有易升华、易分解性质的乙酰丙酮铜 Cu(acac)2为铜源,在无溶剂条件下,高温热处理二者固相混合物, NaNH4Y 分子筛中的 NH4+与 Cu(acac)2中的 Cu2+发生了离子交换, Cu2+进一步发生自还原生成活性中心 Cu+,成功地制备了完全无氯的 CuY催化剂,应用于催化常压甲醇氧化羰基化合成 DMC过程,研究 NaNH4Y分子筛中的铜离子可交换位 NH4+与催化剂 CuY催化性能间的关系.通过各种表征及对 CuY催化剂在甲醇氧化羰基化过程中催化活性分析发现, Y分子筛经过 NH4NO3溶液离子交换及催化剂的制备过程,其八面沸石结构和孔道保持良好.以未经过离子交换的 NaY负载的 CuY催化剂上的铜物种完全以 CuO形式存在,且没有催化活性.随着 NH4+交换度增加, CuY催化剂表面 CuO含量逐渐降低,而活性中心 Cu+含量逐渐增加,且其催化活性也随之增加.当 NH4+交换度趋于极限值时, CuY催化剂中 Cu+含量达最大,其催化活性也达最佳, DMC的时空收率和选择性分别为267.3 mg/(g·h)和68.5%,甲醇转化率为6.9%.因此,无溶剂条件下,以 NaNH4Y分子筛为载体, Cu(acac)2为铜源,制备完全无氯 CuY催化剂时, NH4+是形成 Cu+活性中心的必须条件,且 NH4+交换度直接影响催化剂 CuY的催化活性.     

NH_4~+交换度对CuY催化剂上甲醇氧化羰基化反应性能的影响（英文）

碳酸二甲酯(DMC)是一种应用极其广泛的绿色化工产品,其中经济、绿色的甲醇氧化羰基化合成DMC工艺极具工业前景,而Y分子筛负载铜(CuY)是有效催化剂之一.众所周知,CuY催化剂上的Cu~(+)是催化活性中心.Cu~(+)催化活性中心的引入方式用两种:(1)CuCl直接与HY分子筛固相离子交换;(2)Cu~(2+)与NaY分子筛溶液离子交换,然后Cu~(2+)自还原生成活性中心Cu~(+).在无溶剂条件下制备CuY催化剂时,载体HY分子筛中的可交换位H+量是决定催化剂CuY氧化羰基化催化性能的关键因素.文献通过以不同硅铝比的HY分子筛为载体制备的催化剂CuY,研究铜离子可交换位H+量对氧化羰基化的影响,然而,硅铝比的不同也直接影响了分子筛骨架的组成、Si–O–Al的键角、甚至影响了Al~(3+)的分散度,这些因素都直接影响了CuY催化剂活性.因此,研究NaNH_4Y分子筛载体中的可交换位(NH_4~+)的量与CuY催化剂活性间的关系具有非常重要的意义.本文将NaY分子筛与不同浓度的NH_4NO_3溶液进行离子交换,制得具有不同NH+4交换度的NaNH_4Y分子筛,以其为载体,以具有易升华、易分解性质的乙酰丙酮铜Cu(acac)2为铜源,在无溶剂条件下,高温热处理二者固相混合物,NaNH_4Y分子筛中的NH_4~+与Cu(acac)_2中的Cu~(2+)发生了离子交换,Cu~(2+)进一步发生自还原生成活性中心Cu~(+),成功地制备了完全无氯的CuY催化剂,应用于催化常压甲醇氧化羰基化合成DMC过程,研究NaNH_4Y分子筛中的铜离子可交换位NH_4~+与催化剂CuY催化性能间的关系.通过各种表征及对CuY催化剂在甲醇氧化羰基化过程中催化活性分析发现,Y分子筛经过NH_4NO_3溶液离子交换及催化剂的制备过程,其八面沸石结构和孔道保持良好.以未经过离子交换的NaY负载的CuY催化剂上的铜物种完全以CuO形式存在,且没有催化活性.随着NH_4~+交换度增加,CuY催化剂表面CuO含量逐渐降低,而活性中心Cu~(+)含量逐渐增加,且其催化活性也随之增加.当NH_4~+交换度趋于极限值时,CuY催化剂中Cu~(+)含量达最大,其催化活性也达最佳,DMC的时空收率和选择性分别为267.3mg/(g·h)和68.5%,甲醇转化率为6.9%.因此,无溶剂条件下,以NaNH_4Y分子筛为载体,Cu(acac)_2为铜源,制备完全无氯CuY催化剂时,NH_4~+是形成Cu~(+)活性中心的必须条件,且NH_4~+交换度直接影响催化剂CuY的催化活性.     

KCl对Cu-K-La/γ-Al2O3催化剂上HCl氧化反应性能的影响

采用等体积浸渍法制备了Cu-K-La/γ-Al₂O₃催化剂,考察了KCl对该催化剂催化HCl氧化制Cl₂反应性能的影响. 当KCl的负载量为5 wt%时,Cu-K-La/γ-Al₂O₃催化剂表现出较好的催化活性和稳定性,可在较大的原料气空速变化范围内使用. 在0.1 MPa,360 ℃,空速450 L/（kg-cat·h）和HCl/O₂摩尔比为2：1的反应条件下,Cu-K-La/γ-Al₂O₃催化剂上HCl转化率在100 h内保持85%以上. 表征结果表明,Cu,K和La物种均高度分散于γ-Al₂O₃载体表面;一定量KCl的加入可降低Cu²⁺ → Cu⁺的还原温度,从而提高Cu²⁺活性中心的催化活性.     

Cu、N共掺杂TiO2纳米管光催化重整甘油制备合成气

通过碱性水热-离子交换法制备了Cu、N共掺杂TiO₂纳米管(Cu/N-TNT),对其光催化重整甘油制备合成气性能进行了研究。结果表明,Cu/N-TNT具有富含氧空位(O_V)的管状结构,N以Ti-N形式取代部分O形成杂质能级,Cu以Cu²⁺形式掺杂在催化剂晶格间隙和表面,Cu、N共掺杂促进TiO₂表面电荷有效分离,有利于其光催化重整甘油制备合成气活性和选择性的提高。紫外光照射8 h时,掺Cu量为0.15%的Cu/N-TNT催化剂上CO和H₂产量分别为7.3和8.5 mmol·g^-1,是原始TiO₂的9.1和70.8倍,n_H2/n_CO从0.52提高为1.18,n_CO/n_CO2从0.21提高至0.42。Cu/N-TNT表面N和O_V为醛类脱羰和甲酸脱水生成CO提供反应活性位点,Cu作为浅势阱提高光生电子-空穴分离效率。光生空穴(h⁺)是光催化重整甘油制备合成气过程中的主要活性物种,大量羟基自由基(·OH)和超氧自由基(·O₂^-)会导致甘油过度氧化,使CO选择性降低。     

载体H+含量对CuY甲醇氧化羰基化反应性能影响

通过过量浸渍Cu(NO_3)_2溶液于Y分子筛载体上,制备出Cu负载量为6.4%的CuY催化剂,考察了甲醇氧化羰基化反应的催化性能,并采用X射线衍射(XRD)、H2程序升温还原(H2-TPR)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和NH3程序升温脱附(NH3-TPD)等手段对催化剂表面微观结构进行了表征。研究表明,随Y分子筛载体H+含量的增加,可使更多Cu物种落位于分子筛微孔笼结构中,且高度分散,而笼内未交换的Na+能进一步促进铜物种更多落位于载体超笼结构中,形成更多甲醇氧化羰基化反应的Cu+活性中心。同时随铜物种引入,催化剂中产生了明显的中强酸,酸量随落位于载体笼结构中的Cu物种的增加而增加,催化剂总酸量随之增加,导致甲醇氧化羰基化产物分布发生改变,碳酸二甲酯(DMC)选择性明显降低。对比等体积浸渍法制备的92.3%的高DMC选择性CuY催化剂,以不含H+的NaY分子筛为载体,过量浸渍法制备的CuY催化剂酸量少、Cu物种活性中心多,在保持82.4%的高DMC选择性时,其DMC的时空收率(STY)也高达109.1mg·g~(-1)·h-1。     

Cu/活性炭催化剂：水合肼还原制备及催化甲醇氧化羰基化

以活性炭为载体,水合肼为还原剂制备了负载型Cu/活性炭催化剂,考察了水合肼/硝酸铜物质的量的比对催化甲醇气相氧化羰基化性能的影响,并采用XRD、XPS、H2-TPR和SEM等手段对催化剂进行了表征。结果表明,不加入还原剂水合肼时,催化剂中仅有CuO;随着水合肼/硝酸铜物质的量的比的增加,二价铜逐步被还原为Cu2O和/或单质Cu0,未被还原的Cu(OH)2在催化剂干燥过程中分解形成分散态CuO存在于催化剂表面。当水合肼/硝酸铜物质的量的比为0.75时,催化剂的催化性能最好,碳酸二甲酯的时空收率为120.62 mg.(g.h)-1,选择性为74.51%,甲醇转化率达到3.88%。在93 h反应时间内,催化剂都保持了较高的反应活性和选择性。此时铜物种以Cu2O和分散态CuO为主,Cu2O是主要的活性物种。     

Oxycarbonylation of methanol over modified CuY: Enhanced activity by improving accessibility of active sites

To improve the accessibility of Cu⁺ species located in the small cages, Y zeolite was post-treated with NH₄F solution etching. The small cages were opened effectively, which allowed the reactants to interact with more Cu⁺ sites. As a result, an enhanced activity was obtained over modified CuY catalyst in oxidative carbonylation of methanol.     

Surface Structure and Catalytic Performance of CuCl/SiO2-Al2O3 Catalysts for Methanol Oxidative Carbonylation

Aluminum was doped into amorphous silica gel to modify its surface structure. The obtained SiO₂-Al₂O₃ support was used to prepare the CuCl/SiO₂-Al₂O₃ catalyst by solid-state ion exchange, and the catalyst activity for liquid-phase oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate was investigated. The results showed that the prepared SiO₂-Al₂O₃ support kept the amorphous structure of the silica gel. The BET specific surface area of the silica gel was decreased to 200 m²/g, and the surface acid sites (including Brønsted acid sites) were increased. In the CuCl/SiO₂-Al₂O₃ catalyst, CuCl was not only dispersed on surface but also was ion exchanged with surface Brønsted acid sites of the SiO₂-Al₂O₃ support to form Cu⁺ species, which resulted in a decrease in BET specific surface area to 148 m²/g. These two kinds of Cu⁺ species on the catalyst surface were both active centers for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate. When the catalyst was prepared with Si/Al molar ratio of 5 and was calcined at 500 °C, the selectivity and space-time yield of dimethyl carbonate reached 74% and 1.27 g/(g·h), respectively.     

The local environment of Cu+ in Cu-Y zeolite and its relationship to the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate

Cu-exchanged Y zeolite was investigated in order to determine the location of the copper cations relative to the zeolite framework and to determine which Cu cations are active for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate (DMC). Cu-Y zeolite was prepared by vapor-phase exchange of H-Y with CuCl. The oxidation state, local coordination, and bond distances of Al and Cu were determined using Al K-edge and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Complimentary information was obtained by H2 temperature-programmed reduction and by in-situ infrared spectroscopy. Cu-Y has a Cu/Al ratio of unity and very little occluded CuCl. The average Al-O and Al-Cu bond distances are 1.67 angstroms and 2.79 angstroms, respectively, and the average Cu-O and Cu-Si(Al) bond distances are 1.99 angstroms and 3.13 angstroms, respectively. All of the Cu exchanged is present as Cu+ in sites I', II, and III'. Cu-Y is active for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol, and at low reactant contact time produces DMC as the primary product. With increasing reactant contact time, DMC formation decreases in preference to the formation of dimethoxy methane (DMM) and methylformate (MF). The formation of DMM and MF is attributed to the hydrogenation of DMC and the hydrogenolysis of DMM, respectively. Observation of the catalyst under reaction conditions reveals that most of the copper cations remain as Cu+, but some oxidation of Cu+ to Cu2+ does occur. It is also concluded that only those copper cations present in site II and III' positions are accessible to the reactants, and hence are catalytically active. The dominant adsorbed species on the surface are methoxy groups, and adsorbed CO is present as a minority species. The relationship of these observations to the kinetics of DMC synthesis is discussed.     

Novel type of heterogenized CuCl2 catalytic systems for oxidative carbonylation of methanol

A novel type of heterogenized CuCl₂ catalysts was designed for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate (DMC) taking account of the plausible reaction mechanism and intermediates. To prevent severe corrosion of the reaction equipment materials due to Cl^? while keeping the catalytic activity of the homogeneous CuCl₂ catalyst, we adopted, as supports (or ligands) of CuCl₂, four polymers, bearing a 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or pyridine (py) unit, namely, poly(2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-diyl) (Pbpy), poly(pyridine-2,5-diyl) (Ppy), poly(N,N′-bisphenylene-2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic amide) (Bpya), and poly(4-methyl-4′-vinyl-2,2′-bipyridine) (Pvbpy), together with one chelate compound, 8-quinolinol. The catalytic activity, stability of heterogenized CuCl₂ and their corrosivities to stainless steels were examined in the liquid-phase reaction of the oxidative carbonylation of methanol. These polymer-supported catalysts showed considerable catalytic activity and stability for the DMC synthesis. In particular, the Pbpy-CuCl₂ and Ppy-CuCl₂ catalysts exhibited high DMC yields and selectivity comparable to those of the homogeneous CuCl₂ catalyst. This high activity appears to be associated with the presence of the π-conjugated system in the polymers, which affect the redox reactions of Cu involved in the catalytic reaction. All of the polymer-supported CuCl₂ catalysts could be easily recycled after filtration, and the initial catalytic activity was maintained after three times of use. The corrosive characters of the catalysts were closely related to CuCl₂ leaching from the supports, which reflects the ability of supports to coordinate Cu. These experimental results suggest that both the electronic structure and the coordination ability of the polymer supports are key factors for the development of an effective catalytic system.     

淀粉基炭负载纳米铜催化合成碳酸二甲酯

以硝酸铜和可溶性淀粉为原料, 经过溶胶-凝胶化过程、高温炭化和KOH活化得到炭负载铜催化剂(Cu/C), 采用扫描电镜、透射电镜、X射线衍射、热重-差热分析仪、N₂吸附和CO程序升温脱附对催化剂结构进行了表征, 并考察了它在甲醇氧化羰基化合成碳酸二甲酯(DMC)反应中的催化活性. 结果表明, 活化温度和KOH用量对催化剂的表面结构及金属铜粒子尺寸影响显著, 当活化温度为850℃, KOH:C=1 (质量比)时, Cu/C催化剂的比表面积达到1690 m²/g, 铜纳米粒子平均晶粒尺寸为30.4 nm, 催化活性最高, DMC时空收率达到235.7 mg·g^-1·h^-1, 甲醇转化率和DMC选择性分别为1.6%和76.5%.     

Highly active Pd containing EMT zeolite catalyst for indirect oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate

Palladium containing EMT zeolite catalyst(Pd/EMT) was prepared and used for the indirect oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate(DMC).The EMT zeolite was employed as a new catalyst support and compared with the conventional Pd containing FAU zeolite catalyst(Pd/FAU).The Pd/EMT in contrast to the Pd/FAU catalyst exhibited high intrinsic activity with the turnover frequency of 0.25 s^-1 vs.0.11 s^-1.The Pd/EMT catalyst showed high CO conversion of 82% and DMC selectivity of 79%,that maintained for at least 130 h,while the activity of the Pd/FAU catalyst rapidly deteriorated within 12 h.The enhanced interactions between Pd and EMT zeolite inhibited the sintering of palladium clusters and maintained the Pd2+ active sites in the Pd/EMT catalyst.The stabilization of the mono-dispersed Pd clusters within the EMT zeolite is paramount to the excellent performance of the catalyst for the indirect oxidative carbonylation of methanol to DMC.     

CuCl/SiO2-TiO2 催化剂的结构及其催化甲醇氧化羰基化反应性能

 在微波辐射条件下, 将 CuCl 快速分散到载体表面制得 CuCl/SiO2-TiO2 催化剂, 利用 X 射线衍射、透射电镜、N2 吸附-脱附、热重、H2 程序升温还原和 CO 程序升温脱附对催化剂进行了表征. 结果表明, 微波辐射制备的催化剂中 CuCl 和载体发生了强相互作用, 比传统加热制备的催化剂中形成更多的易还原铜物种, 吸附 CO 的能力更强. 在甲醇液相氧化羰基化反应中, 微波辐射制备的催化剂上甲醇转化率为 11.7%, 碳酸二甲酯选择性达 96.5%, 高于相同条件下传统加热制备催化剂的活性.     

A density functional theory investigation on the mechanism and kinetics of dimethyl carbonate formation on Cu2O catalyst

A theoretical analysis about the mechanism and kinetics of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) formation via oxidative carbonylation of methanol on Cu₂O catalyst is explored using periodic density functional calculations, both in gas phase and in solvent. The effect of solvent is taken into account using the conductor‐like screening model. The calculated results show that CO insertion to methoxide species to produce monomethyl carbonate species is the rate‐determining step, the corresponding activation barrier is 161.9 kJ mol^?1. Then, monomethyl carbonate species reacts with additional methoxide to form DMC with an activation barrier of 98.8 kJ mol^?1, above reaction pathway mainly contributes to the formation of DMC. CO insertion to dimethoxide species to form DMC is also considered and analyzed, the corresponding activation barrier is 308.5 kJ mol^?1, suggesting that CO insertion to dimethoxide species is not competitive in dynamics in comparison with CO insertion to methoxide species. The solvent effects on CO insertion to methoxide species involving the activation barriers suggest that the rate‐determining step can be significantly affected by the solvent, 70.2 kJ mol^?1 in methanol and 63.9 kJ mol^?1 in water, which means that solvent effect can reduce the activation barrier of CO insertion to methoxide species and make the reaction of CO insertion to methoxide in solvents much easier than that in gas phase. Above calculated results can provide good theoretical guidance for the mechanism and kinetics of DMC formation and suggest that solvent effect can well improve the performance of DMC formation on Cu₂O catalyst in a liquid‐phase slurry. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.