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Structure sensitivity of Cu and CuZn catalysts relevant to industrial methanol synthesis

Author

Listed:
  • Roy van den Berg

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University)

  • Gonzalo Prieto

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University
    Present address: Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany)

  • Gerda Korpershoek

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University)

  • Lars I. van der Wal

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University)

  • Arnoldus J. van Bunningen

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University)

  • Susanne Lægsgaard-Jørgensen

    (Haldor Topsoe A/S)

  • Petra E. de Jongh

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University)

  • Krijn P. de Jong

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University)

Abstract

For decades it has been debated whether the conversion of synthesis gas to methanol over copper catalysts is sensitive or insensitive to the structure of the copper surface. Here we have systematically investigated the effect of the copper particle size in the range where changes in surface structure occur, that is, below 10 nm, for catalysts with and without zinc promotor at industrially relevant conditions for methanol synthesis. Regardless of the presence or absence of a zinc promotor in the form of zinc oxide or zinc silicate, the surface-specific activity decreases significantly for copper particles smaller than 8 nm, thus revealing structure sensitivity. In view of recent theoretical studies we propose that the methanol synthesis reaction takes place at copper surface sites with a unique configuration of atoms such as step-edge sites, which smaller particles cannot accommodate.

Suggested Citation

  • Roy van den Berg & Gonzalo Prieto & Gerda Korpershoek & Lars I. van der Wal & Arnoldus J. van Bunningen & Susanne Lægsgaard-Jørgensen & Petra E. de Jongh & Krijn P. de Jong, 2016. "Structure sensitivity of Cu and CuZn catalysts relevant to industrial methanol synthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13057
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13057
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    Cited by:

    1. Rui Sang & Yuya Hu & Rauf Razzaq & Guillaume Mollaert & Hanan Atia & Ursula Bentrup & Muhammad Sharif & Helfried Neumann & Henrik Junge & Ralf Jackstell & Bert U. W. Maes & Matthias Beller, 2022. "A practical concept for catalytic carbonylations using carbon dioxide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Jing-Wen Hsueh & Lai-Hsiang Kuo & Po-Han Chen & Wan-Hsin Chen & Chi-Yao Chuang & Chia-Nung Kuo & Chin-Shan Lue & Yu-Ling Lai & Bo-Hong Liu & Chia-Hsin Wang & Yao-Jane Hsu & Chun-Liang Lin & Jyh-Pin Ch, 2024. "Investigating the role of undercoordinated Pt sites at the surface of layered PtTe2 for methanol decomposition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.

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