Premium
Efficient Conversion of CO 2 to Methane Photocatalyzed by Conductive Black Titania
Author(s) -
Yin Guoheng,
Bi Qingyuan,
Zhao Wei,
Xu Jijian,
Lin Tianquan,
Huang Fuqiang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201701130
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , catalysis , methane , selectivity , materials science , chemical engineering , amorphous solid , adsorption , space velocity , band gap , energy conversion efficiency , nanotechnology , photochemistry , chemistry , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , engineering
One of the major challenges encountered in CO 2 utilization is the development of available and cost‐efficient catalysts with sufficient activity, selectivity, and stability for the generation of useful methane. Here, conductive black titania, TiO 2− x , is found to be efficient in photocatalyzing the reduction of CO 2 to CH 4 . This unique material comprises a crystalline core–amorphous shell structure (TiO 2 @TiO 2− x ) with numerous surface oxygen vacancies, which facilitates the adsorption and chemical activation of CO 2 molecules. Under full solar irradiation, the optimized 500‐TiO 2− x material with narrowed band gap and intermediate states below the conduction band tail exhibits a high space‐time yield of CH 4 of 14.3 μmol g −1 h −1 , with 74 % selectivity and excellent photostability. The present findings can make a significant contribution, not only to develop the surface electron‐modified black TiO 2 catalyst to boost photocatalytic efficiency, but also to establish a really viable and convenient CH 4 production process for CO 2 conversion and renewable solar energy storage.