Low-nuclearity CuZn ensembles on ZnZrOx catalyze methanol synthesis from CO2

Metal promotion could unlock high performance in zinc-zirconium catalysts, ZnZrO_x, for CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol. Still, with most efforts devoted to costly palladium, the optimal metal choice and necessary atomic-level architecture remain unclear. Herein, we investigate the promotion of ZnZrO_x catalysts with small amounts (0.5 mol%) of diverse hydrogenation metals (Re, Co, Au, Ni, Rh, Ag, Ir, Ru, Pt, Pd, and Cu) prepared via a standardized flame spray pyrolysis approach. Cu emerges as the most effective promoter, doubling methanol productivity. Operando X-ray absorption, infrared, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses and density functional theory simulations reveal that Cu⁰ species form Zn-rich low-nuclearity CuZn clusters on the ZrO₂ surface during reaction, which correlates with the generation of oxygen vacancies in their vicinity. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that this catalytic ensemble promotes the rapid hydrogenation of intermediate formate into methanol while effectively suppressing CO production, showcasing the potential of low-nuclearity metal ensembles in CO₂-based methanol synthesis.