An efficient Cu-based catalyst derived from the Cu–Al spinel for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Abstract

Development of highly active and stable catalysts is critical for the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol. Herein, a Cu-based catalyst was demonstrated by impregnating 20%ZnO onto the Cu–Al spinel followed by reduction. The catalyst delivers a methanol yield of 0.218 g g−1 h−1 with a CO2 conversion of 9.2% at 220 °C, 3 MPa, 6000 mL g−1 h−1, and is stable over a 300 h test. Various characterization techniques reveal that ZnO inhibits the growth of Cu nanoparticles during exsolution. Furthermore, there is strong electronic interaction between the components, i.e., the electron migrates from ZnO to the Cu–Al spinel, which leads to more oxygen vacancies and an electron-rich support and thus beneficial for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol.

Graphical abstract: An efficient Cu-based catalyst derived from the Cu–Al spinel for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

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Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Aug 2025
Accepted
26 Aug 2025
First published
27 Aug 2025

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2025, Advance Article

An efficient Cu-based catalyst derived from the Cu–Al spinel for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

X. Li, R. Xue, Y. Liu and C. Zhang, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D5CY00947B

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