Optimizing CO2 hydrogenation to methanol by enriching ZnOx/Cu interfacial sites in Zn-dispersed HKUST-1 derived catalysts

Designing an active Cu/ZnO interface is crucial for efficient catalytic hydrogenation of CO 2 to methanol. In this study, we introduce a straightforward impregnation method to synthesize HKUST-1-derived inverse ZnO x /Cu catalysts. The resulting ZnO x /Cu interface exhibits outstanding methanol space-time yield and selectivity, surpassing conventional Cu/ZnO catalysts synthesized via the co-precipitation and impregnation methods. In situ characterization reveals that small, well-dispersed ZnO x nanoparticles are located on moderately sized Cu nanoparticles, which is attributed to the high specific surface area and ligand coordination of HKUST-1. The inverse ZnO x /Cu structure promotes the formation of reduced ZnO x nanoparticles, which significantly enhance CO 2 and H 2 activation, resulting in increased methanol production. Additionally, the moderate size of Cu nanoparticles minimizes CO* intermediate formation, further enhancing methanol selectivity. This work not only offers valuable insights for the development of new Cu/ZnO catalysts but also provides guidance for the synthesis of inverse metal oxide/metal catalysts for other catalytic systems.