Mechanistic study of catalytic CO₂ hydrogenation in a plasma by operando DRIFT spectroscopy

Abstract Plasma-enhanced heterogeneous catalysis offers a promising alternative to thermal for many industrially relevant processes. There is only limited mechanistic understanding about the relation between interactions of highly energetic electrons and excited molecules with catalysts in plasma their catalytic performance. Herein, novel operando infrared spectroscopy cell presented allowing investigation surface intermediates upon exposure catalyst plasma. The polyether ether ketone enclosure embedding quartz reactor operated at atmospheric pressure can be heated 250 °C. A case study involved characterization during CO 2 hydrogenation on Co/CeZrO 4 catalyst. temperature was monitored using online UV–Vis spectroscopy. This combined approach new experimental insights into plasma-catalyst synergy. most important one demonstration methanation room