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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
08:40
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Controlled Reactive Metal-Support Interactions in NiIn/CeO2 Catalysts for Enhanced Methanol Synthesis from CO2
Qimeng Sun1, Xinyu Liu2,3, Yang Liu4
1Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences At the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Researchers precisely controlled reactive metal-support interactions (RMSIs) using indium oxide on cerium oxide. This optimized catalyst significantly boosts methanol production from CO2 hydrogenation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Reactive metal-support interactions (RMSIs) are crucial in heterogeneous catalysis but often difficult to control.
- Uncontrolled RMSIs lead to interface reconstruction and alloy formation, hindering catalyst optimization.
- High-temperature reactions exacerbate these challenges, impacting catalytic performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To precisely control RMSIs for enhanced catalytic performance in CO2 hydrogenation.
- To investigate the role of indium oxide (InOx) mobility on cerium oxide (CeO2) under reducing conditions.
- To optimize the InOx/NiIn interface for selective methanol synthesis.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the high mobility of InOx on CeO2 under hydrogen (H2) reducing conditions.
- Employing in situ environmental electron microscopy for direct visualization of RMSIs.
- Applying atomic layer deposition for quantitative tuning of InOx content.
- In situ spectroscopic characterization to analyze interface properties.
Main Results:
- Achieved precise control over RMSIs, leading to an optimized InOx/NiIn interface.
- Demonstrated exceptional space-time yield (1.67 gMeOH·gcat−1·h−1) for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol at 280°C.
- Outperformed existing Ni-based and Pd-based catalysts in methanol production.
- Identified the promotion of selective conversion of HCOO* to CH3O* at the optimized interface.
Conclusions:
- Precisely regulated RMSIs are critical for designing high-performance catalysts.
- Controlled InOx/CeO2 interactions enable superior methanol synthesis via CO2 hydrogenation.
- This approach offers a pathway for rational catalyst design and optimization.
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