Different routes to methanol: inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy of adsorbates on supported copper catalysts

We have investigated methanol synthesis with model supported copper catalysts, Cu/ZnO and Cu/MgO, using CO/H 2 and CO 2 /H 2 as feedstocks. Under CO/H 2 both catalysts show chemisorbed methoxy as a stable intermediate, the Cu/MgO catalyst also shows hydroxyls on the support. Under CO 2 /H 2 the cata...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP 2016-06, Vol.18 (26), p.17253-17258
Main Authors: Kandemir, Timur, Friedrich, Matthias, Parker, Stewart F, Studt, Felix, Lennon, David, Schlögl, Robert, Behrens, Malte
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Catalysis
Catalysts
Copper
INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Magnesium oxide
Methyl alcohol
Zinc oxide
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Summary:We have investigated methanol synthesis with model supported copper catalysts, Cu/ZnO and Cu/MgO, using CO/H 2 and CO 2 /H 2 as feedstocks. Under CO/H 2 both catalysts show chemisorbed methoxy as a stable intermediate, the Cu/MgO catalyst also shows hydroxyls on the support. Under CO 2 /H 2 the catalysts behave differently, in that formate is also seen on the catalyst. For the Cu/ZnO catalyst hydroxyls are present on the metal whereas for the Cu/MgO hydroxyls are found on the support. These results are consistent with a recently published model for methanol synthesis and highlight the key role of ZnO in the process. Inelastic neutron scattering of Cu-based methanol synthesis catalysts revealed that the surface coverage after reaction depends on the support oxide.
ISSN:1463-9076
1463-9084
DOI:10.1039/c6cp00967k