Systematic Investigation of Cu‐ZnO‐MnOX Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol

Abstract Currently, the doping and modification of Cu‐ZnO catalysts is a research hotspot for CO 2 to methanol. In this work, the impact of MnO X additive doping on the catalytic activity of Cu‐ZnO catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol was systematically examined. A series of ternary Cu‐ZnO‐MnO X catalysts were produced by the co‐precipitation method, and their physicochemical structures and catalytic activities were characterized. MnO X enhanced the dispersion of Cu and Zn species, obtained a stable crystalline phase, and formed a mesoporous structure with a larger specific surface area, which increased the effective contact area of the gas. Moreover, the appropriate amount of MnO X generated more oxygen vacancies and medium‐strong basic sites in the catalyst, which effectively promoted the adsorption and conversion of CO 2 , and thus improved the methanol yield. The outcomes demonstrated the best activity was achieved when the molar content of MnO X was 10% (CZM‐10), with a methanol space‐time yield (STY) of 233.23 g MeOH /(kg cat ·h) at 220 °C. In situ DRIFTS show the CO 2 methanolization of CZM catalyst via a formate mechanism. This study is important to produce novel catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol.