Enhanced Methanol Synthesis over Self‐Limited ZnOx Overlayers on Cu Nanoparticles Formed via Gas‐Phase Migration Route

Abstract Supported metal catalysts are widely used for chemical conversion, in which construction of high density metal‐oxide or oxide‐metal interface is an important means to improve their reaction performance. Here, Cu@ZnO x encapsulation structure has been in situ constructed through gas‐phase migration of Zn species from ZnO particles onto surface of Cu nanoparticles under CO 2 hydrogenation atmosphere at 450 °C. The gas‐phase deposition of Zn species onto the Cu surface and growth of ZnO x overlayer is self‐limited under the high temperature and redox gas (CO 2 /H 2 ) conditions. Accordingly, high density ZnO x ‐Cu interface sites can be effectively tailored to have an enhanced activity in CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol. This work reveals a new route for the construction of active oxide‐metal interface and classic strong metal‐support interaction state through gas‐phase migration of support species induced by high temperature redox reaction atmosphere.