TY - JOUR AU - Frei, Matthias S. AU - Mondelli, Cecilia AU - Pérez-Ramírez, Javier PY - 2020/04/29 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Development of In₂O₃-based Catalysts for CO₂-based Methanol Production JF - CHIMIA JA - Chimia VL - 74 IS - 4 SE - Scientific Articles DO - 10.2533/chimia.2020.257 UR - https://www.chimia.ch/chimia/article/view/2020_257 SP - 257 AB - <p>CO<sub>2</sub> valorization into chemicals and fuels is a key area in current academic and industrial research, with thermocatalytic hydrogenation to methanol comprising one of the most advanced routes. Life-cycle analysis coupled to the framework of planetary boundaries has recently confirmed the sustainability of this process in absolute terms, emphasizing the need for cheaper CO<sub>2</sub> and renewable H<sub>2</sub> and for a catalytic system embracing high activity, selectivity, and durability to meet economic requirements. Herein, our research efforts aimed to gather atomic-level understanding of electronic and geometric properties of active sites in breakthrough In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-based catalytic systems guiding their development are reviewed. In-depth mechanistic elucidations identified limited hydrogen activation ability as well as water-driven sintering as limitations of pure In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. The former aspect was successfully addressed by adding through coprecipitation a minimal amount of palladium, forming tiny clusters strongly anchored to the oxide lattice leading to an unprecedented sustained methanol productivity. The use of monoclinic zirconia as a carrier, enabling high In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> dispersion in two-dimensional nanostructures, inducing the formation of additional active sites on In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, and contributing to CO<sub>2</sub> activation, offered an efficient way to further boost activity and tackle In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> sintering. Overall, our findings set solid grounds to rationally design a supported and promoted In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> catalyst holding bright prospects for use at a large scale.</p> ER -