Cobalt Element Effect of Ternary Mesoporous Cerium Lanthanum Solid Solution for the Catalytic Conversion of Methanol and CO2 into Dimethyl Carbonate

A citric acid ligand assisted self-assembly method is used for the synthesis of ternary mesoporous cerium lanthanum solid solution doped with metal elements (Co, Zr, Mg). Their textural property was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N-2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and TPD techniques, and so on. The results of catalytic testing for synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CH3OH and CO2 indicated that the DMC yield reached 316 mmol/g on Ce-La-Co solid solution when the reaction temperature was 413 K and the reaction pressure was 8.0 MPa. It was found that Co had synergistic effect with La and Ce, doping of Co on the mesoporous Ce-La solid solution was helpful to increase the surface area of the catalyst, promote CO2 adsorption and activation, and improve the redox performance of solid solution catalyst. The conversion of Co2+ to Co3+ resulted in the continuous redox cycle between Ce4+ and Ce3+, and the oxygen vacancy content of the catalyst was increased. Studies have shown that the catalytic performance of Ce-La-Co solid solution is positively correlated with oxygen vacancy content. On this basis, the reaction mechanism of DMC synthesis from CO2 and CH3OH on the catalyst was speculated.

Automated summary

A ternary mesoporous cerium lanthanum solid solution doped with metal elements (Co, Zr, Mg) was synthesized using a citric acid ligand assisted self-assembly method. The textural property of the solid solution was characterized, and catalytic testing for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was conducted. The results showed that Co has a synergistic effect with La and Ce, and doping of Co on the solid solution improves the surface area, promotes CO2 adsorption and activation, and enhances the redox performance. The catalytic performance of the Ce-La-Co solid solution is positively correlated with oxygen vacancy content.