Enhanced CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol on the Mesostructured Cu–ZnO/Al2O3–ZrO2 Catalyst

In order to obtain high catalytic performance of CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol, mesostructured Cu–ZnO/Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ (CZAZ) catalysts were prepared, and the microstructure and surface properties were optimized by the weight ratio of Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂. Due to the uniform mesoporous structure and strong interaction of Cu with the support, the mesostructured CZAZ-8 catalyst (Al₂O₃ weight amount in Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ was 80%) had a higher active surface area of metallic Cu and more interfaces of Cu and CO₂ adsorption sites, which promoted the CO₂ conversion. In addition, ZrO₂ added to supports endowed the catalysts with a strong basic surface, and the smaller Cu particles increased the interfaces of Cu with ZnO, which increased the selectivity to methanol. Finally, the catalyst CZAZ-8 with a well-ordered mesostructure exhibited a higher space time yield of methanol in the CO₂ hydrogenation.