Direct　conversion　of　syngas　to　dimethyl　ether　(DME)　using　bifunctional　catalysts　is　a　promising　way　to　meet　the　current　industrial　demands.　However,　the　spatial　design　of　the　bifunctional　catalyst　still　remains　a　challenge.　Here,　we　report　a　novel　bifunctional　capsule　catalyst　of　Al2O3@10Cu,　synthesized　by　a　simple　surface　infiltration　method.　It　is　different　from　the　traditional　capsule　catalysts　with　the　core　for　methanol　synthesis　and　the　shell　for　methanol　dehydration.　The　Al2O3@10Cu　employs　an　opposite　strategy　that　uses　the　shell　for　methanol　synthesis　while　the　core　for　methanol　dehydration.　Our　characterization　results　clearly　demonstrate　that　the　capsule　Al2O3@10Cu　possesses　a　more　uniform　Cu-Al2O3　shell　and　a　lower　reduction　temperature　than　other　reference　catalysts.　Further,　in　the　direct　DME　synthesis　from　syngas,　the　Al2O3@10Cu　with　the　uniform　shell　exhibits　much　higher　CO　conversion　and　DME　selectivity　than　the　conventional　powder-based　Cu/Al2O3-P　catalyst.　The　present　work　offers　a　new　spatially　confined　model　for　the　direct　DME　synthesis　from　syngas.　Copyright　©　2019　American　Chemical　Society.