Zeolite-encaged mononuclear copper centers catalyze CO₂ selective hydrogenation to methanol

The selective hydrogenation of CO₂ to methanol by renewable hydrogen source represents an attractive route for CO₂ recycling and is carbon neutral. Stable catalysts with high activity and methanol selectivity are being vigorously pursued, and current debates on the active site and reaction pathway need to be clarified. Here, we report a design of faujasite-encaged mononuclear Cu centers, namely Cu@FAU, for this challenging reaction. Stable methanol space-time-yield (STY) of 12.8 mmol g_cat^-1 h^-1 and methanol selectivity of 89.5% are simultaneously achieved at a relatively low reaction temperature of 513 K, making Cu@FAU a potential methanol synthesis catalyst from CO₂ hydrogenation. With zeolite-encaged mononuclear Cu centers as the destined active sites, the unique reaction pathway of stepwise CO₂ hydrogenation over Cu@FAU is illustrated. This work provides a clear example of catalytic reaction with explicit structure-activity relationship and highlights the power of zeolite catalysis in complex chemical transformations.