Boosting methanol synthesis in CO2 hydrogenation via modulating Cu Ce electronic interactions: Reactive hydroxyl-mediated HCO3* generation and enhanced HCOO* pathway

Herein, the intensity of Cu–Ce electronic interactions wasmodulated to synergistically optimize the distribution of active Cu species, oxygen vacancies (Oᵥ) and reactivesurface hydroxyl groups (OH*).

Comprehensive characterizations (H2-TPR, Raman, and XPS) confirmed that anoptimal Cu–Ce electronic coupling, achieved via 5% Ce doping, promotes the formation of Ce3+ (Ce3+/(Ce3++Ce4+) = 43.6%), enriches Cu+ species (Cu+/(Cu0 + Cu+) = 61.4%), and increases the Oᵥ density (OII/(OII+ OI) = 76%) in the reduced catalyst. These structural and electronic optimizations synergistically enhance CO2activation and H2 dissociation, notably inducing the formation of reactive OH*.