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Three‐Phase Photocatalysis for the Enhanced Selectivity and Activity of CO 2 Reduction on a Hydrophobic Surface
Author(s) -
Li Ang,
Cao Qian,
Zhou Guangye,
Schmidt Bernhard V. K. J.,
Zhu Wenjin,
Yuan Xintong,
Huo Hailing,
Gong Jinlong,
Antonietti Markus
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201908058
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , selectivity , catalysis , phase (matter) , chemical engineering , platinum , chemistry , aqueous solution , molecule , aqueous two phase system , nanotechnology , materials science , photochemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
The photocatalytic CO 2 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 CO 2 (gas), H 2 O (liquid), and catalyst (solid). Thus, concentrated CO 2 molecules in the gas phase contact the catalyst surface directly, and can overcome the mass‐transfer limitations of CO 2 , 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.