Unprecedented InOOH Hexagonal Nanoplates for Highly Selective Synthesis of Methanol via Moderately Photothermal CO2 Hydrogenation

Indium oxyhydroxide (InOOH) hexagonal nanoplates with unprecedented mineral phase were successfully prepared to drive high-selectivity photothermal methanol (CH₃OH) production from CO₂ hydrogenation under atmospheric pressure with the feeding ration of CO₂ to H₂ of 1:1. The performance is significantly different from that of conventional cubic and rhombic In₂O₃, with which only CO was produced under the same conditions. The exposed {001} surfaces of the InOOH nanoplates with freestanding active sites can effectively promote the activation of C–O bonds and the dissociation of H₂, and subsequently successive hydrogenation of the forming *CO, which consequently reduce the reaction barrier for CH₃OH generation significantly. This work may provide guidance for modulating the physical phase of the catalytic system to achieve a highly selective generation of CH₃OH from photothermal CO₂ hydrogenation.