Effect of the Carbon Support and Conditions on the Carbothermal Synthesis of Cu-Molybdenum Carbide and Its Application on CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol

The synthesis of methanol by carbon dioxide hydrogenation has been studied using copper-molybdenum carbides supported on high surface area graphite, reduced graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes. The synthesis conditions and the effect of the support were studied. The catalysts were prepared in situ using H2 or He at 600 °C or 700 °C. Both molybdenum carbide and oxycarbide were obtained. A support with less reactive carbon resulted in lower proportion of carbide obtained. The best results were achieved over a 5 wt.% Cu and 10 wt.% Mo on high surface area graphite that reached 96.3% selectivity to methanol.A.B. Dongil acknowledges financial support from Fundación General CSIC (Programa ComFuturo, Spain) and EU H2020-MSCA, GA. Nº 101008058. Financial support from the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and EU (FEDER) (projects PID2020-119160RB-C21, PID2019-103453GB-C21, CTQ2017-89443-C3-1-R, and CTQ2017-89443-C3-3-R) is also acknowledged. The APC was funded by EU H2020-MSCA, GA. Nº 101008058