Constructing Dual-Reaction Channels on Cu-Based Catalysts through Doping Strategy for Efficient CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol

Cu-based catalysts exhibit promising practical application prospects in the selective hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol. Extensive studies have confirmed that oxygen vacancies, as key adsorption and activation sites for CO2 molecules, play a crucial role in the formation of formate species (the core intermediate in the conversion of CO2 to methanol). In this study, Ga was doped into the CuZnZr catalyst via the sol-gel method, which significantly enhanced the metal-support interaction (MSI). Excellent catalytic performance was achieved at 220 °C, with a methanol space-time yield (STY) of up to 229.3 mg·g-1·h-1. Compared with the pristine CuZnZr catalyst, the introduction of Ga promotes of the formation of more Cu-O-M interfaces and increases the concentration of interfacial oxygen vacancies, thereby facilitating the efficient conversion of CO2. Furthermore, the increased concentration of Cu+ species at the interface enhanced the CO adsorption capacity of catalyst, enabling it to realize the synergistic methanol synthesis via dual-reaction channel (the formate channel and the RWGS + CO hydrogenation channel) at high temperatures, significantly improving methanol yield.