In situ and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies of Cu/ZIF-8, a selective and stable catalyst for CO2 hydrogenation

CO2 hydrogenation has shown to be a promising technology for reducing CO2 emission. This process typically employs catalysts composed of copper (Cu), zinc oxide (ZnO), and alumina (Al2O3), with the Cu-ZnO interface playing a critical role in catalytic performance. Recent advances have introduced metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to stabilize these nanoparticles and prevent sintering. Recently, we developed a new catalyst embedding Cu in zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) through ion exchange, showing enhanced activity and stability compared to traditional catalysts. However, understanding the catalyst's behavior under actual operational conditions remains a challenge. In this work, we aim to employ in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to study the local environment, electronic structure and oxidation states of Cu under real reaction conditions.