Phase reconstruction of In-Mo oxide boosts CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable chemicals like methanol is crucial for sustainable energy.
• Achieving high activity and selectivity simultaneously in CO2 hydrogenation remains a significant challenge.
• Indium-based catalysts have shown promise but often face limitations in performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel catalyst that addresses the activity-selectivity trade-off in CO2 hydrogenation to methanol.
• To investigate the structural and electronic properties of Indium-Molybdenum (In-Mo) oxide catalysts.
• To optimize the catalytic performance for efficient methanol production.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of In0.5Mo0.5 oxide catalyst.
• Characterization using techniques like X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy.
• Testing the catalyst's performance in CO2 hydrogenation under various conditions.
• In-situ studies to understand the catalyst's reconstruction and active sites.

Main Results:

• Reduction-driven reconstruction of In2(MoO4)3 forms intimate In-Mo oxide interfaces.
• Electron transfer from Indium to Molybdenum generates oxygen vacancies.
• These features enhance H2 activation and promote CO2 hydrogenation to methanol.
• The In0.5Mo0.5 oxide catalyst achieved the highest methanol space-time yield among tested catalysts.

Conclusions:

• The In0.5Mo0.5 oxide catalyst effectively alleviates the activity-selectivity trade-off in CO2 hydrogenation.
• Catalyst reconstruction and the formation of In-Mo interfaces are key to its superior performance.
• This work provides a promising pathway for efficient methanol synthesis from CO2.