Cu/Nb2o5 Composite Aerogel for Co2 Hydrogenation to Methanol: Construction of Porous Structure and Abundant Active Interfaces

•Cu/metal oxide aerogels were synthesized and applied into CO2 hydrogenation.•15%-Cu/Nb2O5 showed excellent space–time yield and selectivity towards methanol.•Porous structure endowed 15%-Cu/Nb2O5 with abundant interfaces between Cu and Nb2O5.•Rich Cu/Nb2O5 interfaces served as the active sites to adsorb and convert CO2.