Probing active sites for carbon oxides hydrogenation on Cu/TiO2 using infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

The conversion of carbon oxides to products such as fuels is of high industrial relevance, but uncertainties regarding the catalytic mechanisms remain. Here, the authors use in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) to follow CO, CO2, H2 and H2O molecules as they bind to a Cu/TiO2 surface, finding metallic copper sites serve as CO2 dissociation sites, whereas Cu+ and oxygen vacancies bind CO molecules for further reductions.