Three-phase photocatalysis for the enhanced selectivity and activity of CO2 reduction on a hydrophobic surface

Li, A., Cao, Q., Zhou, G., Schmidt, B. V. K. J. , Zhu, W., Yuan, X., Huo, H., Gong, J. and Antonietti, M. (2019) Three-phase photocatalysis for the enhanced selectivity and activity of CO2 reduction on a hydrophobic surface. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 58(41), pp. 14549-14555. (doi: 10.1002/anie.201908058) (PMID:31418998)

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Abstract

The photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CRR) represents a promising route for the clean utilization of stranded renewable resources, but poor selectivity resulting from the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in aqueous solution limits its practical applicability. In the present contribution a photocatalyst with hydrophobic surfaces was fabricated. It facilitates an efficient three‐phase contact of CO2 (gas), H2O (liquid), and catalyst (solid). Thus, concentrated CO2 molecules in the gas phase contact the catalyst surface directly, and can overcome the mass‐transfer limitations of CO2, inhibit the HER because of lowering proton contacts, and overall enhance the CRR. Even when loaded with platinum nanoparticles, one of the most efficient HER promotion cocatalysts, the three‐phase photocatalyst maintains a selectivity of 87.9 %. Overall, three‐phase photocatalysis provides a general and reliable method to enhance the competitiveness of the CRR.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The authors acknowledge the Max Planck Society and the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFB0600901), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21525626, 51861125104), the CSC‐DAAD scholarship, Shanxi Datong University Youth Science Fund (2016Q2), and the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (B06006) for financial support.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Schmidt, Dr Bernhard
Authors: Li, A., Cao, Q., Zhou, G., Schmidt, B. V. K. J., Zhu, W., Yuan, X., Huo, H., Gong, J., and Antonietti, M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
Journal Name:Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1433-7851
ISSN (Online):1521-3773
Published Online:16 August 2019

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