Nanostructured Ru/TiO2 catalysts for CO2 methanation

The hydrogenation of CO2 performed through heterogeneous catalysis is a pertinent strategy for mitigating CO2 emissions. This thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of the physico-chemical factors related to the catalytic performance of Ru/TiO2 catalysts at mild conditions (≤ 200 °C, 1 atm). Pre-synthesized 2 nm-RuO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are used to serve as precursors for active metallic Ru. These calibrated NPs are coupled with various tailor made TiO2 supports with different crystallinity, textural properties, stability and composition to understand parameters that dictate the activity of Ru/TiO2 catalysts. The specific RuO2-TiO2 interactions and RuO2 NPs migration phenomenon are demonstrated using various techniques including the state-of-the-art tomography and environmental transmission electron microscopy at atmospheric pressure. The important parameter for the better catalytic performance is found to be the epitaxial stabilization of RuO2 on rutile TiO2 prior to the formation of active Ru phase.