Active site structure study of Cu/Plate ZnO model catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol under the real reaction conditions

Plate-like ZnO, dominantly exposed (002) polar facet, supported Cu catalysts were prepared by impregnation method as model catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol under the real reaction conditions. The catalysts were thoroughly characterized by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in situ Raman spectra , Temperature-programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR) and CO 2 Temperature-programmed desorption (CO 2 -TPD). Catalyst microstructures can be obviously tuned through the increasing of Cu content, interface constituted by Cu-Plate ZnO direct contact, interface constituted by Cu (on ZnO) covered by migrated ZnO x and interface constituted by isolated Cu nanoparticles covered by migrated ZnO x . These microstructures displayed different catalytic performance for CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol; among them, interface caused by the migrated ZnO x covered Cu nanoparticles should play vital roles for methanol production.