Morphology effect of nanostructure ceria on the Cu/CeO2 catalysts for synthesis of methanol from CO2 hydrogenation

Three kinds of CeO2 with different nanostructures were prepared by a controlled hydrolysis method, and Cu/CeO2 catalysts were prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation method. The catalytic activity of Cu/CeO2 catalysts was evaluated by the methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation. It was observed that the support morphology greatly affected the activity and selectivity of methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation. The nanorod CeO2 supported Cu/CeO2 catalyst by the exposure of (100) and (110) faces showed the strongest interaction between CuO and CeO2, highest CuO dispersion and the highest catalytic activity with methanol yield of 1.9% at 240 °C and 2 MPa.