Methanol synthesis over Cu/CeO2-ZrO2 catalysts: the key role of multiple active components

High surface area ceria-zirconia synthesized by a glycothermal approach was used as a support for copper nanoparticles. Cu-CeO2/ZrO2 catalysts containing 5-25 wt% copper demonstrate high carbon dioxide-to-methanol conversion rates (120-180 g(MeOH) kg(cat)(-1) h(-1)) at 260 degrees C and 50 bar. The sample containing 5 wt% copper in the form of small nanoparticles (<= 5 nm) demonstrates the highest activity normalized per mass of copper, while higher copper loading results in copper segregation and correspondingly lower activity. We attribute the high activity to a unique synergetic effect between the active components, copper, ceria and zirconia, where activation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide and subsequent methanol synthesis take place. The redox properties of the ceria-zirconia support and its ability to form oxygen vacancy sites play a crucial role in carbon dioxide activation.

Automated summary

In this research, high surface area ceria-zirconia synthesized by a glycothermal approach was used as a support for copper nanoparticles, leading to the successful preparation of Cu-CeO2/ZrO2 catalysts that exhibit high efficiency in the conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol. The catalyst with 5 wt% copper showed the highest activity and mass utilization of copper.