Direct syngas to DME as a clean fuel: The beneficial use of ultrasound for the preparation of CuO-ZnO-Al2O3/HZSM-5 nanocatalyst

► The CuO-ZnO-Al2O3/HZSM-5 nanocatalyst was synthesized successfully by three methods. ► Ultrasound energy has enhanced the dispersion of CuO-ZnO-Al2O3 on HZSM-5. ► Ultrasound energy has been showed the active phase particle size between 25.7 and 125.4 nm. ► TPR-H2 indicated reducibility of co-precipitation-ultrasound nanocatalyst is higher the others. ► Co-precipitation-ultrasound nanocatalyst is illustrated higher activity than the others.