Cu-Ga3+-doped wurtzite ZnO interface as driving force for enhanced methanol production in co-precipitated Cu/ZnO/Ga2O3 catalysts

A detailed understanding of the interactions among active components in gallium promoted Cu/ZnO catalysts, depending on speciation gallium, are reported using situ/operando spectroscopic studies, and their effect CO2 hydrogenation to methanol unraveled. In this contribution, promoting Ga3+-doped wurtzite ZnO lattice a Cu/ZnO/Ga2O3 catalyst is compared that zinc gallate (ZnGa2O4) phase. Remarkably, strong inhibition CO formation, together with an enhanced observed sample, specifically at conditions where competitive reverse water gas shift reaction predominates. The catalytic performance has been correlated microstructure surface enrichment reduced ZnOx species, stabilization positive charged copper species increase amount basic sites for adsorption most selective sample.