Modulation excitation experiments to explore the promotional effect of CO addition on methanol formation under non-thermal plasma

The transformation of CO2 produced by the chemical industry into methanol is a sustainable carbon recycling process that can both reduce the total emitted CO2, and help fulfil the demands of the methanol market (currently 200 million tonnes/yr)[1]. Currently, this can only be achieved using energy intensive conditions of >200 °C and 30 bar pressure in conventional thermal catalysis. Under non-thermal plasma, however, methanol can be produced at room temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Having thoroughly characterised our CuZn catalysts, determining both the Cu-Zn synergy and the role of the plasma, we now wish to perform operando experiments focused on the conditions which boost methanol formation: the co-feeding of CO. Combining steady state experiments with modulation excitation spectroscopy (MES), performed experimentally by transient gas cycling, will resolve both the Cu environment under these new operational conditions, and also allow identification of the active and spectator