Unravelling the structure of Zn promoter in Cu/ZnO-based model catalysts for CO2-to-methanol by 1s2p-RIXS under high pressure reaction condi

The nature and catalytic role of zinc in Cu/ZnO-based CO2-to-methanol catalysts have long been subject of debate. Specifically, it is speculated whether tetrahedral [ZnO4] or octahedral [ZnO6] constitutes the active sites, and how the degree of reduction of Zn at the ZnOx-Cu interface affects the activity. In both cases, X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used for in situ and operando catalyst characterization, but differentiation of the Zn species is limited. Our aim is to perform 1s2p-RIXS, measured at the off-diagonal of the Zn Kα1,2 emission lines, which contains well-distinguishable spectral fingerprints of metallic phases, as well as tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated Zn. The proposed beamtime is expected to give qualitative and quantitative analysis of the Zn species in a model catalyst under reaction conditions.