Laser-generated X/InxOy/ZrO2 (X = Ni, Cu) composite catalysts: influence of support structure and in loading on catalytic activity

CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is a favorable approach due to the vast potential usage of the produced methanol. Apart from copper-based catalysts, indium oxide-based catalysts have been reported as suitable candidates for CO2 transformation to a highly interesting product such as methanol. In this study, two different ZrO2 were used as support for laser-generated indium oxide combined with copper or nickel nanoparticles. The prepared catalysts demonstrated strong dependence in their catalytic activity, especially CO2 conversion and methanol selectivity, on the start form of ZrO2 support (monoclinic or mixed-phase), and on the metal promoter (copper or nickel). In particular, catalysts prepared with mixed-phase ZrO2 support showed up to 210% higher CO2 conversion compared to the monoclinic ZrO2-supported variants, which is unambiguously connected with the higher specific surface area of the used ZrO2 crystal modification. Concerning the influence of the metallic co-catalysts, the copper-based catalysts showed up to two times higher yield and selectivity towards methanol compared to those that used nickel oxides. In summary, this study shows the usability of laser-generated nanoparticles as catalysts for the catalyzed hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol, with certain advantages in relation to the transformation of the initial phase to the form of the active catalyst for the studied reaction.