The　optimizing　utilization　of　carbon　resources　has　drawn　wide　attention　all　over　the　world,　while　exploiting　the　high-efficiency　catalytic　routes　remains　a　challenge.　Here,　a　direct　methanol　synthesis　route　is　realized　from　pure　CO　and　H2O　over　10%Cu/t-ZrO2　catalyst,　where　the　time　yield　of　methanol　is　144.43　mmol　molCu−1　h−1　and　the　methanol　selectivity　in　hydrocarbons　is　100%.　The　Cu　species　highly　dispersed　in　the　t-ZrO2　support　lead　parts　of　them　in　the　cationic　state.　The　Cu+　sites　contribute　to　the　dissociation　of　H2O,　providing　the　H*　source　for　methanol　synthesis,　while　the　formed　Cu0　sites　promote　the　absorption　and　transfer　of　H*　during　the　reaction.　Moreover,　the　H2O　is　even　a　better　H　resource　than　H2　due　to　its　better　dissociation　effectivity　in　this　catalytic　system.　The　present　work　offers　a　new　approach　for　methanol　synthesis　from　CO　and　new　insight　into　the　process　of　supplying　H　donor.　©　2024　Science　Press