High performance MaZrOx (Ma=Cd, Ga) solid solution catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol utilizing the hydrogen from renewable energy source offers a promising way to reduce CO2 emission through the CO2 utilization as a carbon source. However, it is a challenge to convert CO2 to methanol with high activity and high methanol selectivity. Herein, we report a class of metal oxide solid solution catalysts: MaZrOx (Ma=Cd, Ga), which show the methanol selectivity up to 80% with the CO2 single pass conversion reach 4.3~12.4% under the reaction conditions of H2/CO2=3/1, 24000 h–1, 5 MPa. Structural and electronic characterizations combined with DFT calculations suggest that the Ma and Zr components in MaZrOx (Ma=Cd, Ga) solid solution catalysts show a strong synergetic effect, which enhances the H2 heterolytic dissociation and results in high activity and high methanol selectivity. The solid solution catalyst with dual metal oxide components offers a new approach for the selective hydrogenation of CO2 to chemicals.