Enhancing CO2-to-methanol conversion via interfacial engineering in CuZnCeOx/Cu-foam catalyst

Abstract

Cu-based catalysts are promising for CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol, but their activity and stability are often limited by Cu sintering, insufficient interfacial interactions, and inefficient heat transfer. Herein, a novel CuZnCeO x /Cu-foam catalyst was developed by growing Cu(OH) 2 nanowires on Cu foam, followed by hydrothermal deposition of active species. The Cu foam provided an interconnected conductive framework for heat and mass transfer, while the nanowire layer increased the surface roughness and provided a nanostructured surface favorable for the deposition of active oxides. Furthermore, the Cu-Zn-Ce synergy regulated the catalytic interface: Cu species acted as hydrogenation sites, while Zn tuned the electronic structure of Cu and Ce introduced oxygen-vacancy-related defects to enhance CO 2 adsorption and activation. Benefiting from the stable structure, improved reducibility, enriched Cu 0 /Cu + sites, and abundant oxygen vacancies, CuZnCeO x /Cu-foam achieved 20.8% CO 2 conversion, 76.4% methanol selectivity, and a methanol space–time yield of 326.9 mg MeOH ·g −1 ·h −1 at 250 °C and 3 MPa, with stable operation for 120 h.