Discovery of a highly active molybdenum phosphide catalyst for methanol synthesis from CO and CO2

Authors
Melis S. Duyar,
Charlie Tsai,
Jonathan L. Snider,
Joseph Singh,
Alessandro Gallo,
Jong Suk Yoo,
Andrew J. Medford,
Frank Abild-Pedersen,
Felix Studt,
Jakob Kibsgaard,
Stacey Bent,
Jens K. Nørskov,
Thomas F. Jaramillo
Year of publication
2018
Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Issue
46
Volume
130
Starting page
15265
Ending page
15270
Methanol is a major fuel and chemical feedstock currently produced from syngas, a CO/CO2/H2 mixture. Here we identify formate binding strength as a key parameter limiting the activity and stability of known catalysts for methanol synthesis in the presence of CO2. We present a molybdenum phosphide catalyst for CO and CO2 reduction to methanol, which through a weaker interaction with formate, can improve the activity and stability of methanol synthesis catalysts in a wide range of CO/CO2/H2 feeds.
Funding sources