From 6 to 11 September 2026, ADVCATALNANOMAT was represented at the 30th Ibero-American Congress of Catalysis, held in La Serena, Chile, one of the main scientific meetings for the catalysis community in Ibero-America.

Two contributions arising from research activities developed within the project were presented, addressing complementary strategies for controlling active-site accessibility and surface chemistry in CO₂ conversion:

• Oral presentation: Beyond Promotion: Surface-Accessible Cobalt as the Key Driver of Low-Temperature CO₂ Methanation over Hydrotalcite-Derived Co-Al Catalysts — Daviel Gómez, Daniela Juanarena and Patricia Concepción. The work focused on understanding how the accessibility and chemical state of cobalt surface sites determine low-temperature CO₂ methanation performance in hydrotalcite-derived Co–Al catalysts.

• Poster presentation: Active-site engineering in copper phyllosilicate nanotubes for the RWGS reaction: effect of potassium as an alkali promoter — Daviel Gómez, Raúl Colomer, Jose Soriano, Jose Manuel López Nieto, Romel Jiménez and Patricia Concepción. This study explored the use of potassium promotion to tune the surface environment and active-site distribution in Cu-phyllosilicate nanotubes, with the aim of enhancing CO formation through the reverse water-gas shift reaction.

Participation in the congress provided an opportunity to disseminate ADVCATALNANOMAT results, exchange scientific perspectives with the international catalysis community, and strengthen collaborations in CO₂ hydrogenation, active-site engineering and advanced catalyst design.

From 2 to 4 September 2026, the University of Concepción (UdeC), Chile, hosted the Catalysis Meeting UdeC 2026, organized by CarboCat at the Department of Chemical Engineering. The event brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students, academics, and researchers around three complementary perspectives in modern catalysis: structure, mechanism, and operando spectroscopy.

The scientific program featured Dr. Daviel Gómez, MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ, CSIC-UPV), Spain, who delivered the keynote lecture entitled “From the Atom to the Mechanism: Connecting Structure, Dynamics and Reactivity for the Rational Design of Catalysts.” His presentation highlighted how advanced in situ/operando characterization, kinetic studies, and isotopic approaches can be integrated to understand the dynamic nature of active sites and establish structure–reactivity relationships in heterogeneous catalysis.

The meeting also included plenary lectures by Prof. Enrique Iglesia, Michel Boudart Distinguished Professor at Purdue University and Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley, and Dr. Miguel Ángel Bañares, Research Professor at the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry (ICP-CSIC), Spain. Their contributions addressed fundamental aspects of catalytic science, surface chemistry, and the role of operando spectroscopy in bridging chemistry and chemical engineering.

As part of the program, Prof. Iglesia also delivered the open class “Catalytic Reactions on Surfaces”, while additional activities included scientific discussion sessions and informal networking opportunities designed to promote interaction among students, early-career researchers, and senior scientists.

The Catalysis Meeting UdeC 2026 provided a valuable forum for scientific exchange, connecting fundamental concepts in catalysis with advanced methodologies for studying catalytic materials and reaction mechanisms, while strengthening collaboration across different generations of researchers.

Abstract

Isolated dual-atom sites constitute a promising yet largely unexplored strategy for directing reaction intermediates in CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol. In this work, we identify isolated Cu+–O–Ga3+ dual-atom motifs and provide a mechanistically consistent interpretation linking them to enhanced methanol synthesis. This finding is elucidated through the combined use of steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis (SSITKA) with diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Isolated Cu⁺–O–Ga³⁺ pairs, anchored within Cu–Ga–Mg–Al hydrotalcite–derived catalysts, are enabled by ionic-radius compatibility and the preferential Cu+-Ga³⁺ association within the oxide lattice.  X-ray absorption spectroscopy and deep learning-assisted atomic-resolution HAADF-STEM imaging, combined with statistical pair analysis, provide complementary evidence supporting a statistically relevant population of short-range Cu+–O–Ga3+ pairs. Together with the kinetic, spectroscopic, and theoretical analyses, these findings support Cu+–O–Ga3+ proximal motifs as the most plausible structural origin of the enhanced methanol-forming functionality and provide a rational design principle for improved methanol synthesis catalysts.

Abstract

The efficient conversion of CO2 into renewable CH4 continues to motivate the development of advanced methanation catalysts. In this work, CO2 hydrogenation was investigated over a ruthenium-based catalyst supported on yttria-doped ZrO2 (Ru/YSZ), reduced at 150, 250, and 500 °C. IR-CO spectroscopy and XPS analyses demonstrate that reduction temperature governs the local Ru environment, with interfacial and partially oxidized Ruδ+ species predominating at low reduction temperatures, resulting in enhanced catalytic performance. To overcome the common limitations of conventional kinetic analysis, an advanced data-reconciliation methodology using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations was implemented. The combination of spectroscopic studies and multiple reparameterizations with MCMC simulations identified direct CO2 dissociation as the preferred kinetic pathway, rather than the H-assisted formate mechanism on the 250 °C reduced Ru/YSZ sample, with apparent activation energies predicted to be 0.94 eV and 2.58 eV, respectively. Posterior parameter correlations further reveal a strong coupling between CO2 activation and active-site regeneration mediated by terminal water. 

Abstract

This study reveals the presence of low-atomicity copper(I) oxo clusters strongly anchored to ZnO in commercial-type Cu/ZnO catalysts that, coexisting with metallic copper nanoparticles, play a critical role in CO2 hydrogenation. Their detection is challenging because metallic copper nanoparticles dominate the catalyst surface and these clusters appear in low amounts. Nevertheless, definitive evidence of their existence comes from the combination of in situ Raman spectroscopy, temperature-programmed CO surface reaction (TPSR-CO), time-resolved kinetic studies, and advance microscopy studies (STEM-XEDS and STEM-EELS). Catalytic studies combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate its critical role in methanol production and their size-dependent contribution to the total activity compared to traditional Cu-ZnO interfacial sites. According to DFT studies, CO2 adsorption is significantly more favorable on small Cu14O7 and Cu32O16 clusters than on extended Cu2O (111) (110) facets, metallic copper, or conventional metal-support interfacial sites. Moreover, the stabilization of carboxyl rather than formate-like intermediates follows a similar trend than the methanol production, being preferential on small Cu14O7 and Cu32O16 clusters, underlying a carboxyl-type intermediate path in methanol production. 

Abstract

The catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol represents a promising route for carbon recycling and hydrogen storage. However, the stability of current catalysts remains one of the main technological challenges. In this work, we investigate the promotional effect of MoO3 and ReO3 on Cu/ZnO-based catalysts with metal loadings ranging from 0.06 to 3.5 wt%. Spectroscopic (XPS and in situ Raman) and kinetic studies reveal that the incorporation of ultra-low promoter amounts (0.06 wt%) enhances methanol productivity, whereas higher concentrations lead to partial blocking of the active copper sites. Rhenium promotes the stabilization of Cu+ species, while molybdenum establishes strong Cu-Mo interactions that modify the reducibility and surface composition of the catalyst. Remarkably, long-term stability tests (80 h, 240 °C, 20 bar and CO2/H2 = 3) demonstrate that Mo-promoted catalysts exhibit superior durability, reducing the deactivation constants by up to 82% compared to the un-promoted Cu/ZnO sample. This enhanced stability is attributed to the higher Cu-MoO3 interaction, enhanced Cu dispersion and high water affinity of Mo species, which trap water as Mo-OH bonds, preventing copper sintering under reaction conditions. These findings highlight the dual role of Re and Mo in tuning both activity and stability, emphasizing the crucial influence of Mo on the long-term performance of Cu-based catalysts for CO2 to methanol conversion.

From 31 August to 5 September 2025, ADVCATALNANOMAT participated in the 16th European Congress on Catalysis (EuropaCat 2025), held in Trondheim, Norway.

The project was represented through two scientific contributions addressing complementary aspects of active-site engineering and catalyst evolution during CO₂ hydrogenation.

Oral presentation: “Cu⁺–O–Ga³⁺ Pairs Drive Methanol Synthesis in Hydrotalcite Materials: SSITKA and Spectroscopic Insights” — Daviel Gómez, Vlad Diaconescu, Laura Simonelli, Alejandro Karelovic, Estefania Fernández-Villanueva, Pablo Lustemberg, Veronica Ganduglia-Pirovano, Marcelo Domine, Jaime Mazario and Patricia Concepción. The work focused on identifying the structural motifs responsible for methanol formation in Cu–Ga-derived materials, combining steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis (SSITKA) with advanced spectroscopic approaches to establish relationships between surface structure, active-site configuration and catalytic reactivity.

Poster presentation: “Structural and chemical evolution of Ga₂O₃-doped Co(OH)₂ nanosheets in CO₂ hydrogenation” — Daviel Gómez, Daniela Jaunarena and Patricia Concepción. This study investigated how the structure and chemical state of Ga₂O₃-modified Co(OH)₂ nanosheets evolve under CO₂ hydrogenation conditions, providing insight into the relationship between surface restructuring, cobalt-site accessibility and catalytic performance.

Together, both contributions illustrate a central concept of ADVCATALNANOMAT: the rational design of catalytic materials through control of their local surface environment and active-site configuration, supported by kinetic, isotopic and spectroscopic tools capable of probing catalyst behaviour under reaction conditions.

Participation in EuropaCat 2025 provided an important opportunity to disseminate ADVCATALNANOMAT results within the European catalysis community, exchange scientific perspectives on CO₂ conversion and operando characterisation, and strengthen international collaborations in active-site engineering and advanced catalyst design.

From 17 to 20 June 2025, ADVCATALNANOMAT participated in the Annual Meeting of the Spanish Catalysis Society (SECAT 2025), held in Alcalá de Henares, Spain.

The project was represented through the poster contribution:

“Structural and chemical evolution of Ga₂O₃-doped Co(OH)₂ nanosheets during CO₂ hydrogenation”
Daviel Gómez, Daniela Jaunarena and Patricia Concepción

The study focused on understanding the structural and chemical evolution of Ga₂O₃-modified Co(OH)₂ nanosheets under CO₂ hydrogenation conditions, with particular attention to how catalyst composition and surface transformations influence the nature of the active cobalt species and their catalytic behaviour.

The contribution reflects one of the central scientific strategies of ADVCATALNANOMAT: the design of advanced nanostructured materials with tailored surface properties, combined with detailed characterisation under reaction conditions to establish robust relationships between catalyst structure, active-site evolution and catalytic performance.

Participation in SECAT 2025 provided an opportunity to disseminate project results within the Spanish catalysis community, exchange perspectives with researchers working on CO₂ conversion and advanced catalyst design, and strengthen scientific interactions relevant to the development of more efficient catalytic materials for sustainable chemical processes.

From 10 to 14 June 2025, members of the CATREDOX research group participated in a synchrotron beamtime at the ID15A beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, within the framework of research activities connected to ADVCATALNANOMAT.

The experiment was carried out under proposal CH-7341, entitled “Tracking the spatiotemporal chemistry of a RuO₂ catalyst under CO₂ methanation conditions at 160 °C”, led by Dr. Patricia Concepción.

The main objective of the study was to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of RuO₂-based catalytic materials under operando CO₂ methanation conditions. By following structural and chemical changes while the catalyst was actively converting CO₂, the experiment aimed to establish relationships between the dynamic state of the catalytic material, the nature of the active phase and its catalytic performance.

The beamtime also benefited from the collaboration of Dr. Dario Ferreira from the Paul Scherrer Institute / Swiss Light Source, whose expertise in the characterisation of materials under operando conditions contributed to the experimental campaign and strengthened the international scientific collaboration surrounding the project.

This activity reflects one of the core methodological approaches of ADVCATALNANOMAT: combining advanced synchrotron-based characterisation with catalysis under working conditions to understand how catalytic materials restructure dynamically and how these transformations influence their reactivity. Such knowledge is essential for the rational design of more efficient catalysts for sustainable CO₂ conversion.

Participation in this experiment further strengthened collaboration between CATREDOX, ESRF and international synchrotron researchers, while contributing to the development of advanced strategies for the mechanistic understanding of CO₂ hydrogenation catalysts.