In situ/operando investigation of CO2 hydrogenation process on Au/N-DOPED carbon surfaces: probing catalytically important properties

Abstract

Recycling CO2 by hydrogenating it into fuels or value-added chemical is an outstanding approach to mitigate environmental concerns or harms of CO2 emissions as well as to provide renewable fuels. Hence, owing to the central role played by heterogeneous catalysts in advancing such recycling process, in this research project, we aim to evaluate the CO2 hydrogenation catalytic performances of a promising series of catalyst hybrid materials comprised of well-defined gold (Au) nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon porous materials. Apart from that, and more importantly, we intend to combine in situ/operando ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) studies for proceeding a detailed and systematical investigation of the catalytically important properties of the gold/nitrogen-doped carbon interfaces, under typical CO2 hydrogenation reaction conditions. In that way, we expect to acquire more insights into the origin, nature of the active sites and reaction mechanisms associated with the catalytic activity and selectivity behavior of our heterogeneous catalytic systems. Finally, building this type of fundamental understanding can enable us, in more rational and efficient terms, to design and optimize highly active and selective heterogeneous catalysts for the so-called CO2 hydrogenation process. (AU)