Project R-15283

Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts for sunlight powered methanol production: a systematic study on the influence of chemical composition, morphology, and architecture on the catalytic performance. (Research)

The photocatalytic hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to methanol is regarded as the most feasible method for industrial-scale methanol synthesis, addressing CO₂'s greenhouse impact while generating substantial economic profits. For more than half a century, Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts have been successfully tested for the sunlight-powered conversion of CO2 and green H2 to methanol. However, difficulty in CO2 activation at low temperature, catalyst stability, and product separation are obstacles to the realization of a practical hydrogenation process under mild conditions. In order to improve the efficiency of this process, the relationship between the chemical composition, domain size, morphology, and architecture of CZA catalysts and their catalytic performance in the light powered conversion of CO2 and green H2 to CH3OH will be studied in this project.

01 October 2024 - 30 September 2026