An in situ infrared study of dimethyl carbonate synthesis from carbon dioxide and methanol over well-shaped CeO2

The mechanism of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) formation from CO2 and methanol is investigated using three well-shaped CeO2 catalysts, nanorod, nanocube and octahedron, which are packed with different crystal planes. In situ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is employed to probe each reaction step in the DMC synthesis. The number of -OH groups and the species of CO2 adsorptions on ceria surface have significant influence on the activity of ceria with different morphologies. Rod-ceria has favorable catalytic activity because of the large amount of -OH groups and the formation of bidentate carbonate species. (C) 2016 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.