Visible Light Photoreduction of CO₂ Using CdSe/Pt/TiO₂ Heterostructured Catalysts

Journal Article · Thu Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jz9000032· OSTI ID:1015208

Wang, Congjun ^[1]; Thompson, Robert L. ^[1]; Baltrus, John ^[1]; Matranga, Christopher ^[1]

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1. National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, (United States)

A series of CdSe quantum dot (QD)-sensitized TiO₂ heterostructures have been synthesized, characterized, and tested for the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ in the presence of H₂O. Our results show that these heterostructuredmaterials are capable of catalyzing the photoreduction of CO₂ using visible light illumination (λ > 420 nm) only. The effect of removing surfactant caps from the CdSe QDs by annealing and using a hydrazine chemical treatment have also been investigated. The photocatalytic reduction process is followed using infrared spectroscopy to probe the gas-phase reactants and gas chromatography to detect the products. Gas chromatographic analysis shows that the primary reaction product is CH₄, with CH₃OH, H₂, and CO observed as secondary products. Typical yields of the gas-phase products after visible light illumination (λ > 420 nm) were 48 ppm g^-1 h^-1 of CH₄, 3.3 ppm g^{-1 h-1} of CH₃OH (vapor), and trace amounts of CO and H_2.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy (FE)
• OSTI ID: 1015208
• Report Number(s): NETL-TPR-2729
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Vol. 1, Issue 1; ISSN 1948-7185
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English