Inverse Oxide/Metal Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol

The hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol using heterogeneous catalysts is an appealing route for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and generating useful products. The synthesis of methanol is attractive due to its utilization as a fuel, a fuel additive, or an intermediate for a wide array of industrial chemicals. Traditional catalytic systems, like those based on Cu or Ni, have been extensively explored but have thus far shown limited conversion and selectivity to desired products like methanol primarily due to the chemical stability of CO2. These catalysts are also difficult to use industrially due to the high pressures and temperatures needed for these catalytic reactions. In the search for improvements in the reaction rates, conversion, and selectivity to liquid products, inverse oxide/metal catalysts have been recently explored and have yielded promising results. This review summarizes the latest advances in the use of inverse catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO(2 )to methanol. First, this review focuses on some strategies for synthesizing inverse oxide/metal catalysts. Next, the relationship between the interfacial properties and the catalytic activity is reviewed, emphasizing the nature of the oxide layer and its dispersion on the metal surface. Lastly, the activities of inverse catalysts and materials prepared by traditional synthesis approaches are compared.