Engineering Peripheral Metal-Oxide Catalysis: Interparticle Spacing in Cu/ZrO₂ Catalysts for Methanol Synthesis by CO₂ Hydrogenation.

ABSTRACT: The periphery surrounding oxide-supported metal nanoparticles plays a crucial role in many catalytic reactions that exhibit strong metal-oxide promotional effects. Engineering this catalytically active periphery, where kinetically relevant surface intermediates are efficiently turned over, offers a pathway to optimized performance, yet it remains challenging due to the need for precise control over nanospatial catalyst features. Herein, we address this subject for the relevant case of methanol synthesis by CO₂ hydrogenation on Cu/ZrO₂ catalysts. The methanol synthesis rate reaches a maximum at a surface-to-surface Cu interparticle distance of ca. 15 nm. Operando modulation-excitation diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy reveals that this optimal spacing maximizes

SUBMITTER: Lopez-Luque I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12416470 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature