Synergy between Cu and ZnO for methanol conversions over Cu-ZnO catalysts.

It was found that Cu–ZnO catalysts showed maximum specific activities at the composition of 70 wt% CuO for the CH3OH conversions both in the absence and presence of H2O. Taking into considerations the kinetic isotope effects and the electronic state and particle size of the Cu metal, it is proposed that the synergistic promotion is bifunctional in nature.