Cu/ZrO2 catalysts obtained by impregnation of ZrO2 and complexation with citric acid were studied for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. The catalyst structure, texture, and active copper surface were determined using XRD, BET, and reactive adsorption of N2O, respectively. The XPS and Auger spectroscopies were used to determine the surface structure and copper electronic state. FT-IR pyridine adsorption was studied to determine acidity of the catalysts. The results of quantum-chemical calculations concerning the formation of oxygen vacancies in monoclinic and tetragonal ZrO2 have been also presented. It was found that selection of the appropriate conditions of the catalyst preparation influences the degree of copper dispersion, its electronic state, and contents of the zirconia polymorphic phases (tetragonal and monoclinic). The presence of oxygen vacancies stabilizes both the thermodynamically unstable t-ZrO2 phase and Cu1+ cations, which are present in the vicinity of oxygen vacancies. Complexes formed preferentially on tetragonal ZrO2 built from Cu cations and oxygen vacancies are the acid centers active in methanol synthesis reaction; therefore the catalytic activity toward methanol increases with increasing t-ZrO2 content. The implications of the obtained results for the mechanism of the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 are discussed.

Ag/ZrO 2 and Ag/ZrO 2 /ZnO catalysts obtained by the coprecipitation method were studied in the CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol. The catalyst structure was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Thermo-Programmed Reduction (TPR). The X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger spectroscopies were used to determine the silver electronic state. It was found that selection of the appropriate conditions of the catalyst preparation influences silver dispersion degree, its electronic state, and contents of the zirconia polymorphic phases (tetragonal and monoclinic). The presence of oxygen vacancies stabilizes both the thermodynamically unstable t-ZrO 2 phase and the Ag þ cations, which are present in the vicinity of oxygen vacancies. The catalytic activity to methanol increases with increasing t-ZrO 2 content but RWGS reaction is accelerated by dispersed metallic silver. The implications of the obtained results for the mechanism of the catalytic hydrogenation of CO 2 are discussed.

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The complete optical-gyration tensor for a monoclinic crystal of has been determined by the tilter method at a wavelength of 680 nm. The tensor components in terms of rotatory power in relation to the principal axes of the indicatrix were found to be , with in the optic-axis directions. The absolute optical chirality has also been established by combining the structural chirality determination (through the x-ray anomalous scattering) and the signs of the gyration tensor components measured for the same crystal.

Physicochemical properties and compositions of KxH(3-x)PW12O40 salts, where 2 < or = x < or = 3, have been investigated. It has been found that freshly prepared K2HPW12O40 salt (drying at 313 K) contains particles of heteropolyacid and particles of the neutral potassium salt, the sample being in 78.6% amorphous. On aging at room temperature, the heteropolyacid spreads to form a surface layer covering the neutral potassium salt particles K3PW12O40. Heat treatment of KxH(3-x)PW12O40 salts, where 2 < or = x < 3, from 313 K to higher temperatures induces the transformation of the heteropolyacid-covering K(3) core into a well-dispersed, amorphous surface layer. On further heating of the acidic potassium salts, the surface layer decomposes between 855 and 915 K with the formation of a PW8O26-type bronze as a new phase, the K3PW12O40 salt remaining unchanged. The latter starts to decompose at 1093 K, and in the case of all samples, the process is completed at about 1183 K. Rietveld structure refinement, XPS, and 31P NMR measurements of acidic potassium salts indicate that the core of these salts is always formed by the K3PW12O40 salt, which is covered by a heteropolyacid. Comparison of lattice parameters of the K3 salt and HPW leads to the conclusion that the layer is composed of partially or completely dehydrated heteropolyacid molecules. The coverage of the core by HPW in the K2 sample was estimated to be equal to one monolayer.