Indium Oxide as a Superior Catalyst for Methanol Synthesis by CO2 Hydrogenation |
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| Authors: | Oliver Martin Dr Antonio J Martín Dr Cecilia Mondelli Dr Sharon Mitchell Dr Takuya F Segawa Dr Roland Hauert Dr Charlotte Drouilly Dr Daniel Curulla‐Ferré Prof Javier Pérez‐Ramírez |
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| Institution: | 1. ETH Zurich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Zurich, Switzerland;2. ETH Zurich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Zurich, Switzerland;3. Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland;4. Total Research & Technology Feluy, Seneffe, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | Methanol synthesis by CO2 hydrogenation is attractive in view of avoiding the environmental implications associated with the production of the traditional syngas feedstock and mitigating global warming. However, there still is a lack of efficient catalysts for such alternative processes. Herein, we unveil the high activity, 100 % selectivity, and remarkable stability for 1000 h on stream of In2O3 supported on ZrO2 under industrially relevant conditions. This strongly contrasts to the benchmark Cu‐ZnO‐Al2O3 catalyst, which is unselective and experiences rapid deactivation. In‐depth characterization of the In2O3‐based materials points towards a mechanism rooted in the creation and annihilation of oxygen vacancies as active sites, whose amount can be modulated in situ by co‐feeding CO and boosted through electronic interactions with the zirconia carrier. These results constitute a promising basis for the design of a prospective technology for sustainable methanol production. |
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| Keywords: | CO2 hydrogenation indium oxide methanol synthesis oxygen vacancies zirconium oxide |
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