Engineering the Cu/Mo2CTx (MXene) interface to drive CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Development of efficient catalysts for the direct hydrogenation CO2 to methanol is essential valorization this abundant feedstock. Here we show that a silica-supported Cu/Mo2CTx (MXene) catalyst achieves higher intrinsic formation rate per mass Cu than reference Cu/SiO2 with similar loading. The interface can be engineered due affinity partially reduced MXene surface (in preference SiO2 surface) and mobility under H2 at 500 °C. With increasing reduction time, becomes more Lewis acidic amount Cu+ sites dispersed onto Mo2CTx correlates an increased methanol. critical role between further highlighted by density functional theory calculations identify formate methoxy species as stable reaction intermediates. via its highly sought-after although only handful efficiently promote transformation. Here, authors engineer copper supported on silica–molybdenum composite, achieving remarkable performance in