Interfacial Active Sites in Catalysts for Higher Alcohol Synthesis From CO₂: A Review

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into higher alcohols offers a sustainable route for chemical and fuel production.
• Challenges include thermodynamic limitations and competing reactions like methanation and methanol synthesis.
• Higher alcohol synthesis relies on cooperative interfacial active sites, not isolated ones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in identifying active sites for higher alcohol formation.
• To explore the role of interfacial structures, promoters, and metal-support interactions.
• To understand mechanistic principles for designing selective catalysts.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent studies on Cu-, Co-, and Mo-based catalysts.
• Analysis of interfacial structures and their influence on catalytic steps.
• Investigation of electronic effects and metal-support interactions.

Main Results:

• Cu-based catalysts utilize Cu─ZnO─FeₓCᵧ interfaces.
• Co-based catalysts involve Co⁰/Coᵟ⁺ or Co₂C/Co⁰ interfacial motifs.
• Mo-based catalysts benefit from tunable oxidation states and coordination environments for chain growth.

Conclusions:

• Interfacial active sites are crucial for selective higher alcohol synthesis from CO2.
• Understanding these sites enables rational catalyst design.
• Further research into interfacial engineering can overcome current challenges.