Publication

Advanced Nanocatalyst Design Lab

Publication

Highly productive Na-promoted CuAl catalysts from a layered double hydroxide precursor for the RWGS reaction

본문

Author
Yeon Hee Ro, Kwang Young Kim, Geun Bae Rhim, Young Eun Kim, Gyoung Woo Lee, Hyeon Song Lee, Yongha Park, Young-eun Kim, Kee Young Koo, Unho Jung, Yongju Yun, Sujin Kim, Dong Hyun Chun*, Sang-Yup Lee*, Min Hye Youn*
Journal
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025, 526, 171322

<Graphical abstract>

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The reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction is a promising route for converting CO2 into syngas, a key feedstock for fuels and chemicals in carbon-neutral energy cycles. Conventionally, RWGS operates under high-temperature and low-pressure conditions, whereas most downstream syngas-utilization processes require low-temperature and high-pressure environments. This mismatch causes substantial energy losses during process integration, underscoring the need for catalysts that perform efficiently under low-temperature and high-pressure conditions. Here, we report Na-promoted CuAl catalysts with highly dispersed Cu nanoparticles embedded in an Al2O3 matrix, synthesized from layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors. The LDH-derived structure enables high Cu loadings (>49.4 wt%) without sintering, offering superior long-term stability compared to conventional impregnated Cu/Al2O3. Na promotion further enhances catalytic activity and selectivity across a wide range of temperatures, pressures, gas hourly space velocities (GHSV), and H2/CO2 ratios. The optimized 5NaCuAl catalyst achieved a CO formation rate of 19.32 × 10−5 molCO·g−1·s−1 at 400 °C and 2 MPa, maintaining >99 % CO selectivity and outperforming reported Cu-based catalysts. Mechanistic studies revealed that its exceptional performance arises from (i) the formation of high-loading, well-dispersed Cu nanoparticles enabled by the LDH precursor and (ii) Na-induced electronic modulation, which enhances the redox cycle and optimizes adsorption–desorption behavior. These results provide a practical strategy for designing high-performance RWGS catalysts tailored for low-temperature and high-pressure operation, paving the way toward more efficient and economically viable carbon capture and utilization processes.