Search results for "catalysts and catalysis"

Influence of a Cu–zirconia interface structure on CO2 adsorption and activation

2021

CO2 adsorption and activation on a catalyst are key elementary steps for CO2 conversion to various valuable products. In the present computational study, we screened different Cu–ZrO2 interface structures and analyzed the influence of the interface structure on CO2 binding strength using density functional theory calculations. Our results demonstrate that a Cu nanorod favors one position on both tetragonal and monoclinic ZrO2 surfaces, where the bottom Cu atoms are placed close to the lattice oxygens. In agreement with previous calculations, we find that CO2 prefers a bent bidentate configuration at the Cu–ZrO2 interface and the molecule is clearly activated being negatively charged. Strain…