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CO 2 Hydrogenation to Methanol on Supported Au Catalysts under Moderate Reaction Conditions: Support and Particle Size Effects
Author(s) -
Hartadi Yeusy,
Widmann Daniel,
Behm R. Jürgen
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201402645
Subject(s) - catalysis , methanol , selectivity , particle size , particle (ecology) , chemical engineering , chemistry , heterogeneous catalysis , inorganic chemistry , oxide , materials science , chemical reaction , organic chemistry , oceanography , engineering , geology
The potential of metal oxide supported Au catalysts for the formation of methanol from CO 2 and H 2 under conditions favorable for decentralized and local conversion, which could be concepts for chemical energy storage, was investigated. Significant differences in the catalytic activity and selectivity of Au/Al 2 O 3 , Au/TiO 2 , AuZnO, and Au/ZrO 2 catalysts for methanol formation under moderate reaction conditions at a pressure of 5 bar and temperatures between 220 and 240 °C demonstrate pronounced support effects. A high selectivity (>50 %) for methanol formation was obtained only for Au/ZnO. Furthermore, measurements on Au/ZnO samples with different Au particle sizes reveal distinct Au particle size effects: although the activity increases strongly with the decreasing particle size, the selectivity decreases. The consequences of these findings for the reaction mechanism and for the potential of Au/ZnO catalysts for chemical energy storage and a “green” methanol technology are discussed.