Tridecaboron diphosphide: a new infrared light active photocatalyst for efficient CO2 photoreduction under mild reaction conditions

Abstract

The search for efficient infrared (IR) light responsive photocatalysts for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is highly desirable but remains a huge challenge. Herein, tridecaboron diphosphide (B₁₃P₂) is demonstrated as an effective IR light active photocatalyst for the photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction. Specifically, B₁₃P₂ enables efficient IR light driven photocatalytic CO₂ reduction with a CO evolution rate of 0.13 μmol h⁻¹ and an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 0.07% under monochromatic light of 810 nm in the presence of Co(bpy)₃²⁺ (bpy = 2′2-bipyridine) as a cocatalyst, representing a state-of-the-art IR light active photocatalyst. Both the theoretical and experimental investigations indicate that B₁₃P₂ is a zero bandgap material showing strong light absorption ranging from the ultraviolet to the IR region, and electron–hole pairs can be generated by the interband transitions between energy orbitals after absorbing photons to participate in photocatalytic reactions.