Issue 2, 2021

Enhanced visible-light photoreduction of CO2 to methanol over Mo2C/TiO2 surfaces in an optofluidic microreactor

Abstract

Inspired by the photosynthesis process used by plants, the photocatalytic conversion of CO2 with water to obtain chemical energy can tackle increasing CO2 emissions and energy demand together. In this work, the performance of Mo2C/TiO2 blends in the continuous photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to methanol is evaluated in a micro-optofluidic reactor illuminated with UV and visible LED lights (5 mW cm−2). The photo-responsive Mo2C/TiO2 surfaces applied are manufactured by airbrushing a photocatalytic ink containing different weight percent (2–10%) of Mo2C nanoparticles (synthesized by a carbothermal method) and TiO2 (P25) onto porous carbon paper. Doping TiO2 with Mo2C makes the composite material active in the visible region compared with bare TiO2, while it does not bring performance enhancement when the photoactive surfaces are illuminated with UV light. A 4% Mo2C weight percent led to enhanced stable production of methanol under visible light (r = 11.8 μmol g−1 h−1, AQY = 0.21%, SCH3OH/HCOOH = 12.1), which is ascribed to the presence of Mo2C, able to extend the spectral response as well as reduce the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes occurring in TiO2. Higher Mo2C contents, however, seem to shield the photoexcitation capacity of TiO2.

Graphical abstract: Enhanced visible-light photoreduction of CO2 to methanol over Mo2C/TiO2 surfaces in an optofluidic microreactor

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Gwen. 2020
Accepted
09 Du 2020
First published
09 Du 2020

React. Chem. Eng., 2021,6, 304-312

Enhanced visible-light photoreduction of CO2 to methanol over Mo2C/TiO2 surfaces in an optofluidic microreactor

J. Albo and G. García, React. Chem. Eng., 2021, 6, 304 DOI: 10.1039/D0RE00376J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements