Open AccessPhotothermal Catalyst Engineering: Hydrogenation of Gaseous CO 2 with High Activity and Tailored Selectivity
Author(s) -
Jia Jia,
Wang Hong,
Lu Zhuole,
O'Brien Paul G.,
Ghoussoub Mireille,
Duchesne Paul,
Zheng Ziqi,
Li Peicheng,
Qiao Qiao,
Wang Lu,
Gu Alan,
Ali Feysal M.,
Dong Yuchan,
Wang Qiang,
Ghuman Kulbir Kaur,
Wood Thomas,
Qian Chenxi,
Shao Yue,
Qiu Chenyue,
Ye Miaomiao,
Zhu Yimei,
Lu ZhengHong,
Zhang Peng,
Helmy Amr S.,
Singh Chandra Veer,
Kherani Nazir P.,
Perovic Doug D.,
Ozin Geoffrey A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.201700252
Subject(s) - nanorod , selectivity , catalysis , materials science , nanomaterials , nanocrystal , photothermal therapy , nanochemistry , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , palladium , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
This study has designed and implemented a library of hetero‐nanostructured catalysts, denoted as Pd@Nb 2 O 5 , comprised of size‐controlled Pd nanocrystals interfaced with Nb 2 O 5 nanorods. This study also demonstrates that the catalytic activity and selectivity of CO 2 reduction to CO and CH 4 products can be systematically tailored by varying the size of the Pd nanocrystals supported on the Nb 2 O 5 nanorods. Using large Pd nanocrystals, this study achieves CO and CH 4 production rates as high as 0.75 and 0.11 mol h −1 g Pd −1 , respectively. By contrast, using small Pd nanocrystals, a CO production rate surpassing 18.8 mol h −1 g Pd −1 is observed with 99.5% CO selectivity. These performance metrics establish a new milestone in the champion league of catalytic nanomaterials that can enable solar‐powered gas‐phase heterogeneous CO 2 reduction. The remarkable control over the catalytic performance of Pd@Nb 2 O 5 is demonstrated to stem from a combination of photothermal, electronic and size effects, which is rationally tunable through nanochemistry.