Role of Co species on Co/KIT‐6 catalyst surface in CO2 hydrogenation

Supported Co/KIT‐6 catalyst, which has high specific surface area and well‐developed ordered mesoporous structure, was prepared by wet impregnation method. Its physicochemical properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunner–Emmet–Teller (BET), Low‐angle XRD, in situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (in situ XPS) and H2‐temperature program reduction (H2‐TPR), and its catalytic properties were investigated by CO2 hydrogenation. The in situ XPS and H2‐TPR results indicated that Co oxide species could be reduced by H2 to highly dispersed active metal Co species. The highly dispersed active metal Co species are the main CO2 hydrogenation active centers. CO2 molecules could be reduced by active metal Co species to generate CO molecules and promote CO2 methanation. The prepared Co catalyst presented high CO2 catalytic hydrogenation activities and stability. The CO2 conversion exceeds 47%, and CO and CH4 selectivity reaches 25.6% and 74.4% at 400°C within the range of reaction time of 500 min, respectively. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.