Synthesis and characterization of Cu-ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts for CO2 reduction: an operando study

• Grant number: 23/12559-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Gustavo Possato
• Grantee: Arielle Milani Garcia
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/05246-4 - In situ and operando studies of heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 conversion, AP.JP

Abstract

Given current climate problems, mainly through the greenhouse effect caused by gases such as CO2, this project aims to synthesize and characterize Cu-ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts to reduce carbon dioxide to methanol. This reaction is of great interest because methanol is a high-energy-density liquid fuel that can be used to store renewable energy. Alumina-supported copper-zinc catalysts have been widely used to synthesize methanol from CO, CO2 and H2. In the literature, however, there is a gap regarding the real effect of the presence of structural vacancies and the activity of these catalysts, especially during catalytic activity. Under reaction conditions, it is possible to verify and quantify the presence of vacancies through Raman spectroscopy and a dedicated catalytic system for this spectroscopy. Therefore, This project aims to synthesize and characterize Cu-ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts to study the effect of structural vacancies through Raman spectroscopy under operating conditions. The materials will be synthesized through hydrothermal synthesis to obtain vacancies in both the alumina and the Zn-Cu phase, which will be wet-impregnated.