Methanol synthesis on a Cu(100) catalyst

The synthesis of methanol on a Cu(100) single crystal surface was studied between 500–550 K and at pressures between 44–102 kPa using a gas mixture of CO₂/CO/H₂ = 1/2/12. The specific reaction rates found for methanol synthesis were approximately an order of magnitude lower than those rates previously reported for silica supported, Cu-based catalysts. Furthermore the rates observed for the Cu(100) catalyst are estimated to be several orders of magnitude smaller than those rates found for ZnO supported Cu catalysts at comparable reaction conditions. The very low concentration of ionic copper species on the surface is thought to be responsible for the low activity of the Cu(100) catalyst.