From CO or CO2?: space-resolved insights into high-pressure CO2 hydrogenation to methanol over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3

The reaction pathway of high-pressure CO₂ hydrogenation over a Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst is investigated through the gradients of reactants/products concentration and catalyst temperature within the catalytic reactor. This study reveals that methanol is formed through direct CO₂ hydrogenation at low temperature, while above 260 °C methanol formation is mediated via CO which is formed by reverse water–gas shift reaction.