Efficient CH3OH formation on H2/Ar plasma‐treated CoO sites for CO2 + H2 + H2O DBD system

Abstract

AbstractPacking heterogeneous catalysts to achieve a better plasma–catalyst synergy is critical to promoting CO2 conversion into high‐value chemicals. Herein, a series of CoO‐based catalysts were synthesized, and the treated H2/Ar–CoO possessed the highest CH3OH selectivity (39.6%) in the CO2 + H2 + H2O system, about four times higher than the initial CoO (10.0%). Systemic characterizations showed that H2/Ar plasma treatment significantly increased the oxygen vacancy (Ov) concentration of H2/Ar–CoO by Ar+ bombardment and synchronous H reduction. Considering the key role of CH3O on CH3OH generation upon kinetic simulations, we proposed that the Ov in H2/Ar–CoO could accelerate the CH3O/OH adsorption and further recombine with H/CH3, in which the H2O provided abundant OH/H radicals via electron‐impact process. This study highlighted the importance of using H2O with Ov‐rich catalysts for plasma‐enabled CH3OH synthesis.