Ru Nanowires for Effective Low‐Temperature CO <sub>2</sub> Methanation in the Aqueous Phase
Abstract
ABSTRACT The Sabatier reaction is a cornerstone for carbon‐neutral fuel synthesis, yet conventional catalytic systems face persistent challenges: hot‐spot‐driven deactivation due to high operating temperatures (over 473 K), parasitic CO byproducts generated from competing reverse water‐gas shift (RWGS) reactions, and limited catalyst durability under intense exothermic conditions. Here, we present an aqueous‐phase methanation system enabled by grain boundary‐rich ruthenium nanowires (Ru NWs) that overcome these limitations. Three‐dimensional free‐rotating Ru NWs, stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone, achieve 99% CH 4 selectivity at just 353 K while fully suppressing undesired RWGS activity. First‐principles simulations reveal that aqueous solvation elevates the energy barriers for *CO desorption and dissociation relative to *HCOO hydrogenation, thereby shifting the reaction pathway decisively toward methanation. This work establishes a new strategy for robust, low‐temperature Sabatier catalysis in water, offering a scalable route for power‐to‐gas applications under mild and sustainable conditions.
Article Details
Authors (19)
Mengzhu Li
Chengyu Li
Nanhong Xie
SINOPEC Development & Planning Department Beijing P.R. China
Jia‐Lan Chen
State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science University of Science and Technology of China Hefei P. R. China
Jisheng Xie
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering
Zhiyi Wang
Shiyun Li
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering
Shou Qiu
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Engineering, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering
Xiaochen Zhang
Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
Ang Li
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry
Yuchen Deng
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Engineering, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing P.R. China
Weizhen Li
Junxian Gao
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Engineering, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing P.R. China
Jiayun Zhao
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Engineering, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing P.R. China
Jihan Zhou
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Mufan Li
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering
Jin‐Xun Liu
State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science University of Science and Technology of China Hefei P. R. China
Mi Peng
Ding Ma