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Title: Boosting Hydrogenation of CO2 Using Cationic Cu Atomically Dispersed on 2D γ‐Al2O3 Nanosheets

Journal Article · · Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)

The continuous development of novel catalytic approaches is crucial for advancing efficient CO2 hydrogenation processes. Drawing inspiration from single-atom catalysis and 2D materials, we designed a new 2D single-atom catalyst with excellent thermal stability by thermally treating Cu-adsorbed γ-AlOOH nanosheets, which yielded a Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalyst with high activity in the hydrogenation of CO2-yielding methanol (CH3OH), dimethyl ether (DME), and CO as products. The active Cu sites are monodispersed and highly stable due to their cationic oxidation state and their substitution for pentacoordinated aluminum (AlP) sites on particle surfaces. This study demonstrates an efficient approach for achieving a high CO2 hydrogenation rate (30.45 mol mol−1 h−1) using a catalyst system that lacks metallic Cu centers, traditionally considered essential for H₂ dissociation, and employs what was previously thought to be an inert metal oxide (γ-Al2O3) for CO and CH3OH production. Ongoing mechanistic studies aim to elucidate the synergy between cationic Cu single atoms and γ-Al2O3, a Lewis acid support, in facilitating hydrogen (H2) activation and methanol formation.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; AC02-06CH11357; AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
3028485
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-208548
Journal Information:
Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie (International Edition) Journal Issue: 25 Vol. 64; ISSN 1521-3773; ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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