Carbonate Hydrogenated to Formate in the Aqueous Phase over Nickel/TiO₂ Catalysts

Carbonate hydrogenation to formate is a promising route to convert captured carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals, thus reducing carbon emissions and creating a revenue return. Developing inexpensive catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and stability remains challenging. We report a supported non-noble metal catalyst, Ni/TiO2, with great selectivity over 96% and excellent stability in catalyzing the conversion of carbonate into formate in aqueous solution. Ni-0 and Ni2+ species are both observed in Ni/TiO2 catalysts, and the synergistic effect of these two Ni components leads to high activity and high selectivity of carbonate hydrogenation to formate.