Unveiling active sites and the cooperative role of non-thermal plasma and copper–zinc catalysts in the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol

dissociation to CO, bypassing the reverse water-gas shift step required in thermal catalysis. No Cu/Zn alloy formation was observed, underscoring the importance of metallic Cu and Cu/ZnO interfaces under NTP conditions. Furthermore, NTP stabilizes reduced Cu species, preventing re-oxidation and ensuring sustained catalytic activity. These findings advance the mechanistic understanding of NTP-assisted catalysis.