Electronic interaction promoting CO2 hydrogenation to light olefins over ZnZrOx/SAPO-34 catalyst

ZnZrOx catalysts are extensively employed in CO2 hydrogenation, where electronic interaction is critical for activating reactant molecules and regulating reaction routes. However, the effect of ZnZrOx electronic interaction on the reaction process remains unclear and requires further investigation. In this study, a series of ZnZrOx catalysts were synthesized using co-precipitation, and the electronic interaction between Zn and Zr could be modulated by altering calcination temperature. In-situ DRIFTs results suggested that the electronic interaction of Zn and Zr could enhance the hydrogenation capacity of ZnZrOx and promote the activation of CO2 to form more methoxy species, which are crucial intermediates for the generation of light olefins. Additionally, the experimental results indicate that the catalytic performance of CO2 hydrogenation to light olefins over ZnZrOx/SAPO- 34 strongly depended on the electronic interaction of Zn and Zr, and more electron transfer from Zr to Zn is favorable to the hydrogenation of CO2 to light olefins. This work provides theoretical instruction and a feasible strategy to rationally design and optimize catalysts.