Highly Efficient CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol over the Mesostructured Cu/AlZnO Catalyst

Graphical The mesostructured Cu/AlZnO-9 catalyst with 15 wt % Cu was prepared for the hydrogenation of CO 2 to methanol. The well mesostructure increased the exposed Cu surface area and CO 2 adsorption sites, which accelerated the CO 2 conversion, and the ZnO in catalyst increased the generation of methanol. In addition, the well mesostructure heightened the stability of supported Cu catalyst due to the high dispersion of Cu nanoparticles. In this work, the mesostructured Cu/AlZnO catalysts were prepared for the CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol. Experimental results showed that the weight ratio of Al 2 O 3 and ZnO affected the morphology of the mesoporous AlZnO supports and surface properties of the mesostructured Cu/AlZnO catalysts. The AlZnO-9 (the Al 2 O 3 mass within the AlZnO support was 90 wt%) with loose spongy porous structure and high surface area facilitated the Cu nanoparticle dispersion. Thus, the Cu/AlZnO-9 catalyst showed higher exposed Cu surface area ( S Cu ) and more exposed CO 2 adsorption sites, which accelerated the CO 2 conversion. Meanwhile, the ZnO added into catalysts increased the strength of surface basicity and the surface concentration of Zn species, which promoted the catalytic activity of CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol. In addition, the well mesostructure heightened the stability of supported Cu catalyst due to the high dispersion of Cu nanoparticles.