Improved copper-based catalysts for alcohol-assisted CO2 hydrogenation: A comparative study between novel nano-stabilized and deposition-precipitation method

•A novel of synthesizing copper-based catalyst was proposed and the catalytic performance was compared with the traditional deposition precipitation method.•Ion-exchange method was used to modify the commercial hydrotalcite cations in layers.•Copolymer of polyethylene glycol and maleic acid was used as stabilizer to prevent particle aggregation during catalyst preparation process.•It is the first time that stabilizers have been used during catalyst preparation for alcohol-assisted methanol synthesis reactions.•The nano copper-based catalysts showed superior catalytic performance.