Synthesis and catalytic performance of graphene modified CuO-ZnO-Al2O3 for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Abstract

CuO-ZnO-Aland graphene nanosheet (GNS) were synthesized by coprecipitation route and reduction of exfoliated graphite oxides method, respectively. GNS modified CuO-ZnO-Alnanocomposites were synthesized by high energy ball milling method. The structure, morphology, and character of the synthesized materials were studied by BET, XRD, TEM, and HTPR. It was found that by high energy ball milling method the CuO-ZnO-Alnanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on GNS surfaces. The catalytic performance for the methanol synthesis from COhydrogenation was also tested. It was shown experimentally that appropriate incorporation of GNS into the CuO-ZnO-Alcould significantly increase the catalyst activity for methanol synthesis. The 10 wt.% GNS modified CuO-ZnO-Alcatalyst gave a methanol space time yield (STY) of 92.5% higher than that on the CuO-ZnO-Alcatalyst without GNS. The improved catalytic performance was attributed to the excellent promotion of GNS to dispersion of CuO and ZnO particles.