Tuning interfaces between Cu and oxide viaatomic layer deposition method for CO2hydrogenation to methanolElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d3cy01221b

Tailoring the metal–oxide interface by atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a promising strategy to modulate active sites for methanol synthesis from CO2hydrogenation. Herein, specific Cu/ZnOx/CeO2interfaces are constructed by controlling the deposition sequence and amount of ZnO in Cu–Zn–Ce oxide catalysts viathe ALD method. In-depth characterizations demonstrate that Cu+–Zn0–Ce4+structure is the active site for methanol synthesis from CO2hydrogenation. This strategy provides a viable way to tune the metal–oxide interface to develop catalysts and favors precise understanding of the catalytic–structure activity relationship of the Cu species in the process of CO2conversion to methanol.