Study on Catalytic Performance in CO[sub.2] Hydrogenation to Methanol over Au–Cu/C[sub.3]N[sub.4] Catalysts

• Published in: Catalysts Vol. 14; no. 8
• Main Authors: Li, Chenyang, Yang, Jian, Zhang, Chongbin, Wang, Cong, Lyu, Chen, Fan, Kai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Catalysts; Electron transport; Force and energy; Greenhouse effect; Hydrogenation; China
• ISSN: 2073-4344; 2073-4344
• DOI: 10.3390/catal14080470

In this paper, Au and Cu nanoparticles were successfully loaded onto porous g-C[sub.3]N[sub.4] material through a hydrothermal synthesis method. By adjusting the proportion of Cu, Au-5%Cu/C[sub.3]N[sub.4], Au-10%Cu/C[sub.3]N[sub.4], and Au-15%Cu/C[sub.3]N[sub.4], catalysts were prepared and used for the catalytic reduction of CO[sub.2] to methanol. Characterization analysis using high-resolution XPS spectra showed that with an increase in the doping amount of Cu, the electron cloud density on the Cu surface initially increased and then decreased. Electrons from Au atoms transferred to Cu atoms, leading to the accumulation of a more negative charge on the Cu surface, promoting the adsorption of partially positively charged C in CO[sub.2], which is more beneficial for catalyzing CO[sub.2]. Among them, Au-10%Cu/C[sub.3]N[sub.4] exhibited good reducibility and strong basic sites, as demonstrated by H[sub.2]-TPR and CO[sub.2]-TPD, with the conversion rates for CO[sub.2], methanol yield, and methanol selectivity being 11.58%, 41.29 g·kg[sup.−1]·h[sup.−1] (0.39 μmol·g[sup.−1]s[sup.−1]), and 59.77%, respectively.