Unconventional catalyst support promotes record green methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide

The synthesis of methanol can be dramatically improved by switching the catalyst support from zirconia to hafnia. Hafnia’s monoclinic crystal structure and insulating electronic properties efficiently stabilise single atoms of the active indium catalyst, boosting activity by up to 70% and substantially reducing the required loading of this expensive metal. These findings demonstrate the importance of carrier engineering and open the door to an alternative approach to catalyst design, say the authors.