Unprecedented InOOH Hexagonal Nanoplates for Highly Selective Synthesis of Methanol via Moderately Photothermal CO2 Hydrogenation

Abstract

Indium oxyhydroxide (InOOH) hexagonal nanoplates with unprecedented mineral phase were successfully prepared to drive high-selectivity photothermal methanol (CH₃OH) production from CO₂ hydrogenation under atmospheric pressure with the feeding ration of CO₂ to H₂ of 1:1. The performance is significantly different from that of conventional cubic and rhombic In₂O₃, with which only CO was produced under the same conditions. The exposed {001} surfaces of the InOOH nanoplates with freestanding active sites can effectively promote the activation of C–O bonds and the dissociation of H₂, and subsequently successive hydrogenation of the forming *CO, which consequently reduce the reaction barrier for CH₃OH generation significantly. This work may provide guidance for modulating the physical phase of the catalytic system to achieve a highly selective generation of CH₃OH from photothermal CO₂ hydrogenation.