New Rh-ZnO/carbon nanotubes catalyst for methanol synthesis

Abstract

A new catalyst for methanol synthesis, ZnO-promoted rhodium supported on carbon nanotubes, was developed. It was found that the Rh-ZnO/CNTs catalyst had high activity of 411.4 mg CH3OH/g/cat/h and selectivity of 96.7 % for methanol at 1 MPa and 523 K. The activity of this catalyst is much higher than that of NC 207 catalyst at the same reaction conditions. It was suggested that the multi-walled structure CNTs favored both the couple transfer of the proton and, electron over the surface of the catalyst and the uptake of hydrogen which was favorable to methanol synthesis.