Bimetallic Nanoparticle Catalysts Based on Copper for the Synthesis of Methanol from CO2 and H2.
EMSL Project ID
40791
Abstract
Carbon dioxide is a known greenhouse gas and contributor to global warming, while methanol is a convenient chemical feedstock, H2 storage medium, and alternative fuel. The synthesis of methanol via the hydrogenation of CO2 provides an intriguing route to methanol from H2 and the greenhouse gas CO2. Cu-based methanol synthesis catalysts have been known for some time, yet the fundamental question of how the activities of these catalysts change when the metal alloy composition, particle size, and morphology are systematically altered remains unanswered. Most methods of heterogeneous catalyst synthesis do not allow for systematic atomic-level changes to the catalyst, let alone provide any correlation of said changes with reactivity. This proposal addresses the fundamental question of how catalyst particle size, composition, and morphology of Cu-M (M = Zn, Au, Pt, and Pd) heterogeneous bimetallic catalysts affect the synthesis of methanol from CO2 and H2. Utilizing dendrimers, the particle size, composition, and morphology of the catalysts will be systematically changed while holding the synthetic history constant. The CO2 hydrogenation activity of these catalysts will be evaluated and compared to physicochemical characterization data. These structure/function correlations will be utilized to design more efficient catalysts and to reveal useful information about the mechanism of CO2 hydrogenation.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2010-07-19
End Date
2011-07-24
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator