Accessing parity-forbidden d-d transitions for photocatalytic CO2 reduction driven by infrared light

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

A general approach to promote IR light-driven CO2 reduction within ultrathin Cu-based hydrotalcite-like hydroxy salts is presented. Associated band structures and optical properties of the Cu-based materials are first predicted by theory. Subsequently, Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 nanosheets were synthesized and are found to undergo cascaded electron transfer processes based on d-d orbital transitions under infrared light irradiation. The obtained samples exhibit excellent activity for IR light-driven CO2 reduction, with a production rate of 21.95 and 4.11 μmol g−1 h−1 for CO and CH4, respectively, surpassing most reported catalysts under the same reaction conditions. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy are used to track the evolution of the catalytic sites and intermediates to understand the photocatalytic mechanism. Similar ultrathin catalysts are also investigated to explore the generality of the proposed electron transfer approach. Our findings illustrate that abundant transition metal complexes hold great promise for IR light-responsive photocatalysis.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number4034
Number of pages11
JournalNature communications
Volume14 (2023)
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jul 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85164179533
ORCID /0000-0002-4859-4325/work/148607201
PubMed 37419885

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

DFG Classification of Subject Areas according to Review Boards

Subject groups, research areas, subject areas according to Destatis

Keywords

  • Female, Pregnancy, Humans, Carbon Dioxide, Parity, Coordination Complexes, Electric Stimulation Therapy, Electron Transport