Controlling CO2 Hydrogenation Selectivity by Metal‐Supported Electron Transfer

Tuning CO2 hydrogenation selectivity to obtain targeted value‐added chemicals and fuels has attracted increasing attention. However, a fundamental understanding of the way to control the selectivity is still lacking, posing a challenge in catalyst design and development. Herein, we report our new discovery in ambient pressure CO2 hydrogenation reaction where selectivity can be completely reversed by simply changing the crystal phases of TiO2 support (anatase‐ or rutile‐TiO2) or changing metal loadings on anatase‐TiO2. Operando spectroscopy and NAP‐XPS studies reveal that the determining factor is a different electron transfer from metal to the support, most probably as a result of the different extents of hydrogen spillover, which changes the adsorption and activation of the intermediate of CO. Based on this new finding, we can not only regulate CO2 hydrogenation selectivity but also tune catalytic performance in other important reactions, thus opening up a door for efficient catalyst development by rational design. CO2 hydrogenation selectivity can be tuned by changing the crystal phase of TiO2 or simply changing the metal loadings on anatase‐TiO2 supported Ru catalysts. The essential reason for the distinctly different selectivity is the charge transfer under reaction conditions, probably as a result of hydrogen spillover, which leads to changes in adsorption and activation of intermediate CO.