ZrO Nanocrystals As Catalyst for Synthesis of Dimethylcarbonate from Methanol and Carbon Dioxide: Catalytic Activity and Elucidation of Active Sites.

The catalytic activity of zirconium oxide (ZrO) nanocrystals for the reaction of carbon dioxide (CO) with methanol to form dimethylcarbonate (DMC) was investigated. ZrO nanocrystals prepared by hydrothermal synthesis at various temperatures were compared. The size of the ZrO nanocrystals monotonically increased with the hydrothermal temperature, according to specific surface area, transmission electron microscope measurements, and their X-ray diffraction peak widths.