Tuning interfaces between Cu and oxide via atomic layer deposition method for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Abstract

Tailoring the metal–oxide interface by atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a promising strategy to modulate active sites for methanol synthesis from CO₂ hydrogenation. Herein, specific Cu/ZnO_x/CeO₂ interfaces are constructed by controlling the deposition sequence and amount of ZnO in Cu–Zn–Ce oxide catalysts via the ALD method. In-depth characterizations demonstrate that Cu⁺–Zn⁰–Ce⁴⁺ structure is the active site for methanol synthesis from CO₂ hydrogenation. This strategy provides a viable way to tune the metal–oxide interface to develop catalysts and favors precise understanding of the catalytic–structure activity relationship of the Cu species in the process of CO₂ conversion to methanol.