A Novel Energy Band Match Method and a Highly Efficient CuO–Co3O4@SiO2 Catalyst for Dimethyl Carbonate Synthesis from CO2

The present research on dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis from CO2 was short of effective theoretical guidance and catalyst design was also blind. A kind of regular relationship was found from catalyst structure calculation and activity experiments. Therefore, a novel energy band matching method was proposed. After substantial verification experiments, it was proved to be correct. Whether one certain catalyst has catalytic activity can be judged predictably according to this novel method. Novel and efficient catalysts can be designed or selected on the basis of designer's wishes. Based on this method, three efficient catalysts were prepared and CuO–Co3O4@SiO2 catalyst had the best catalytic performance. In a word, once it is applied in catalysts research, there will be a huge progress in catalysis and materials science fields.