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Identifying the nature of the active sites in methanol synthesis over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts

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  • Daniel Laudenschleger

    (Universitätsstraße 150)

  • Holger Ruland

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion)

  • Martin Muhler

    (Universitätsstraße 150
    Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion)

Abstract

The heterogeneously catalysed reaction of hydrogen with carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide (syngas) to methanol is nearly 100 years old, and the standard methanol catalyst Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 has been applied for more than 50 years. Still, the nature of the Zn species on the metallic Cu0 particles (interface sites) is heavily debated. Here, we show that these Zn species are not metallic, but have a positively charged nature under industrial methanol synthesis conditions. Our kinetic results are based on a self-built high-pressure pulse unit, which allows us to inject selective reversible poisons into the syngas feed passing through a fixed-bed reactor containing an industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst under high-pressure conditions. This method allows us to perform surface-sensitive operando investigations as a function of the reaction conditions, demonstrating that the rate of methanol formation is only decreased in CO2-containing syngas mixtures when pulsing NH3 or methylamines as basic probe molecules.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Laudenschleger & Holger Ruland & Martin Muhler, 2020. "Identifying the nature of the active sites in methanol synthesis over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17631-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17631-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhao, Ning & Wang, Jiangjiang & Tian, Yuyang & Yao, Zibo & Yan, Suying, 2024. "Numerical study on a novel solar-thermal-reaction system for clean hydrogen production of methanol-steam reforming," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    2. Sigmund Jensen & Mathias H. R. Mammen & Martin Hedevang & Zheshen Li & Lutz Lammich & Jeppe V. Lauritsen, 2024. "Visualizing the gas-sensitive structure of the CuZn surface in methanol synthesis catalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Dmitry Porshnov, 2022. "Evolution of pyrolysis and gasification as waste to energy tools for low carbon economy," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(1), January.
    4. Yaguang Li & Xianhua Bai & Dachao Yuan & Chenyang Yu & Xingyuan San & Yunna Guo & Liqiang Zhang & Jinhua Ye, 2023. "Cu-based high-entropy two-dimensional oxide as stable and active photothermal catalyst," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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