Ru-Catalyzed Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction with Near-Unity Selectivity and Superior Stability

Cascade catalysis of reverse water gas shift (RWGS) and well-established CO hydrogenation holds promise for the conversion of greenhouse gas CO2 and renewable H-2 into liquid hydrocarbons and methanol under mild conditions. However, it remains a big challenge to develop low-temperature RWGS catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and stability. Here, we report the design of an efficient RWGS catalyst by encapsulating ruthenium clusters with the size of 1 nm inside hollow silica shells. The spatially confined structure prevents the sintering of Ru clusters while the permeable silica layer allows the diffusion of gaseous reactants and products. This catalyst with reduced particle sizes not only inherits the excellent activity of Ru in CO2 hydrogenation reactions but also exhibits nearly 100% CO selectivity and superior stability at 200-500 degrees C. The ability to selectively produce CO from CO2 at relatively low temperatures paves the way for the production of value-added fuels from CO2 and renewable H-2.

Automated summary

A highly efficient RWGS catalyst has been designed by encapsulating ruthenium clusters with the size of 1 nm inside hollow silica shells, demonstrating high activity, selectivity, and stability at 200-500 degrees C. This catalyst enables selective production of CO from CO2 at relatively low temperatures, paving the way for the production of value-added fuels from CO2 and renewable H-2.