<div id="i4c-draggable-container" style="position: fixed; z-index: 1499; width: 0px; height: 0px;"><div class="resolved" data-reactroot="" style="all: initial;"> </div></div><div id="i4c-draggable-container" style="position: fixed; z-index: 1499; width: 0px; height: 0px;"> <div class="resolved" data-reactroot="" style="all: initial;"> </div> </div> <div id="i4c-draggable-container" style="position: fixed; z-index: 1499; width: 0px; height: 0px;"> <div class="resolved" data-reactroot="" style="all: initial;"> </div> </div> Efficient conversions of CO₂ into value-added chemicals such as alcohols are of great industrial and scientific interest. The Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst has been extensively studied and commercialized in the industry to produce C1 alcohol, methanol from CO₂ hydrogenation. In contrast, for Cu-based catalysts, successful attempts to achieve the production of higher alcohols, such as ethanol, which is safer and offers higher energy density, are very limited, due to the difficulty in C-C bond coupling and thus low selectivity. Most Cu-based catalysts are active for the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction and hydrogenation of CO rather; while the C-O bond activation is difficult, which hinders C-C bond formation. Promoters such as Fe have been reported previously, which can facilitate C-O bond dissociation over Cu catalysts. In addition, alkali metal promoters, including K and Cs, have also shown the capability of C chain growth over Cu-based catalysts. Yet, the reaction mechanism remains elusive.
Here, combining surface science experiments and DFT calculations, we present a detailed mechanistic understanding of the roles that Cs plays in ethanol production at the Cu-Cs-ZnO interface under CO₂ hydrogenation condition. Our study not only leads to the discovery of new pathways for ethanol production from CO₂ hydrogenation but also opens new possibilities to allow the highly active and selective CO₂ conversion to higher alcohols on widely used and low-cost Cu-based catalysts. <div id="i4c-dialogs-container"> </div> <div id="i4c-dialogs-container"> </div><div id="i4c-dialogs-container"> </div>

Dr Xuelong Wang

Postdoc research associate, Brookhaven National Laboratory

Appearances