Method to prepare a catalyst for use in a process for the synthesis of methanol, comprising indium oxide in the form of In.sub.2O.sub.3, and at least one additional metal selected from a noble metal; and in that the average particle size of said noble metal phase is, preferably at least 0.05 nm, and less than 5 nm as determined by STEM-EDX, characterized in that the catalyst is prepared by co-precipitation of a saline solution at a pH above 8.5 comprising an indium salt and a salt of the at least one additional metal selected from a noble metal and optionally further comprising a salt of the at least one alkaline earth metal.

Method to prepare a catalyst for use in a process for the synthesis of methanol, comprising indium oxide in the form of In.sub.2O.sub.3, and at least one additional metal selected from a noble metal; and in that the average particle size of said noble metal phase is, preferably at least 0.05 nm, and less than 5 nm as determined by STEM-EDX, characterized in that the catalyst is prepared by co-precipitation of a saline solution at a pH above 8.5 comprising an indium salt and a salt of the at least one additional metal selected from a noble metal and optionally further comprising a salt of the at least one alkaline earth metal.

The present invention discloses a dual functional photocatalytic device and a process for photocatalytic co-conversion of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2O to value added products in direct sunlight. More particularly, the present invention relates to efficient and continuous process for the photocatalytic co-conversion of a mixture of CO.sub.2 and water into methanol, formaldehyde, in the presence of newly developed dual-functional photocatalyst device. The present invention is to provide dual-functional photocatalyst device, along with a co-catalyst and integrating them into a photocatalytic device using artificial leaf approach wherein said device is in the form of thin film working under wide spectrum of solar radiation at ambient conditions. Additionally it is easy to scale up the photocatalyst device size from 1 cm.sup.2 to 10 cm.sup.2 size and process is tuneable to generate desired products.

The present invention discloses a dual functional photocatalytic device and a process for photocatalytic co-conversion of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2O to value added products in direct sunlight. More particularly, the present invention relates to efficient and continuous process for the photocatalytic co-conversion of a mixture of CO.sub.2 and water into methanol, formaldehyde, in the presence of newly developed dual-functional photocatalyst device. The present invention is to provide dual-functional photocatalyst device, along with a co-catalyst and integrating them into a photocatalytic device using artificial leaf approach wherein said device is in the form of thin film working under wide spectrum of solar radiation at ambient conditions. Additionally it is easy to scale up the photocatalyst device size from 1 cm.sup.2 to 10 cm.sup.2 size and process is tuneable to generate desired products.

Disclosed are a catalyst used for converting carbon dioxide to methanol by hydrogenation and a method preparing the sane. The caratlys may include: a mesoporous indium oxide; and a catalyst supported on the mesoporous indium oxide. Preferably, a porous structure of the mesoporous indium oxide may have Ia3d symmetry and may include mesopores and micropores interconnecting the mesopores.

Disclosed are a catalyst used for converting carbon dioxide to methanol by hydrogenation and a method preparing the sane. The caratlys may include: a mesoporous indium oxide; and a catalyst supported on the mesoporous indium oxide. Preferably, a porous structure of the mesoporous indium oxide may have Ia3d symmetry and may include mesopores and micropores interconnecting the mesopores.

Disclosed are a catalyst used for converting carbon dioxide to methanol by hydrogenation and a method preparing the sane. The caratlys may include: a mesoporous indium oxide; and a catalyst supported on the mesoporous indium oxide. Preferably, a porous structure of the mesoporous indium oxide may have Ia3d symmetry and may include mesopores and micropores interconnecting the mesopores.

Supported catalyst for use in a process for the synthesis of methanol, characterized in that the supported catalyst comprises indium oxide in the form of In.sub.2O.sub.3 and at least one noble metal being palladium, Pd, wherein both indium oxide and at least one noble metal are deposited on a support remarkable in that the supported catalyst is a calcined supported catalyst comprising from 0.01 to 10.0 wt. % of palladium and zirconium dioxide (ZrO.sub.2) in an amount of at least 50 wt. % on the total weight of said supported catalyst.

Supported catalyst for use in a process for the synthesis of methanol, characterized in that the supported catalyst comprises indium oxide in the form of In.sub.2O.sub.3 and at least one noble metal being palladium, Pd, wherein both indium oxide and at least one noble metal are deposited on a support remarkable in that the supported catalyst is a calcined supported catalyst comprising from 0.01 to 10.0 wt. % of palladium and zirconium dioxide (ZrO.sub.2) in an amount of at least 50 wt. % on the total weight of said supported catalyst.

Supported catalyst for use in a process for the synthesis of methanol, characterized in that the supported catalyst comprises indium oxide in the form of In.sub.2O.sub.3 and at least one noble metal being palladium, Pd, wherein both indium oxide and at least one noble metal are deposited on a support remarkable in that the supported catalyst is a calcined supported catalyst comprising from 0.01 to 10.0 wt. % of palladium and zirconium dioxide (ZrO.sub.2) in an amount of at least 50 wt. % on the total weight of said supported catalyst.