title: Carbon Dioxide Conversion to Methanol over Size-Selected Cu4 Clusters at Low Pressures.
abstract: The activation of CO2 and its hydrogenation to methanol are of much interest as a way to utilize captured CO2. Here, we investigate the use of size-selected Cu4 clusters supported on Al2O3 thin films for CO2 reduction in the presence of hydrogen. The catalytic activity was measured under near-atmospheric reaction conditions with a low CO2 partial pressure, and the oxidation state of the clusters was investigated by in situ grazing incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The results indicate that size-selected Cu4 clusters are the most active low-pressure catalyst for catalytic CO2 conversion to CH3OH. Density functional theory calculations reveal that Cu4 clusters have a low activation barrier for conversion of CO2 to CH3OH. This study suggests that small Cu clusters may be excellent and efficient catalysts for the recycling of released CO2.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tyo
authors.forename: Soenke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Janae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeBartolo
authors.affiliation: §Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: von Issendorff
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zapol
authors.affiliation: #Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5801 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vajda
authors.forename: Larry A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Curtiss