Au/ZnO as catalyst for methanol synthesis: The role of oxygen vacancies

Abstract. Gold catalysts supported on zinc oxide with Au loadings of 1, 2, and 3 wt% were prepared by the colloidal deposition method and applied in methanol synthesis in CO2-free (CO + H2) and in CO2-containing (CO + CO2 + H2) synthesis gas. The characterization by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction before and after the catalytic high-pressure tests demonstrated a very …