Watching catalysts work during CO2 hydrogenation

In a recent issue of Nature Catalysis , Boniface et al. use operando techniques to gain new insights into how classical Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts operate in methanol synthesis, significantly advancing our understanding of their behavior. These catalysts function as a dynamic ensemble of Cu, ZnO x ultrathin films, and Cu–Zn alloy phases that continuously interconvert under reaction conditions. However, the atomistic nature of the active site remains elusive.