Mainstream modification strategies for improving Au-based catalysts towards photocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Abstract

Photocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation to methanol (CHM) can directly convert solar energy into high-value-added methanol (CH3OH) product through a green chemistry method, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly route to solve the energy crisis and thus contributing to carbon neutrality. Among various photocatalytic platforms, Au-based catalysts have shown great potential in photocatalytic CHM due to their unique electronic, optical, and catalytic properties. However, Au nanoparticles (NPs) often suffer Au-based CHM systems. Some dominant strategies include engineering oxygen vacancies (Ov), introducing metal-support interactions (MSIs) effect, regulating the size of Au species, and constructing bimetallic catalysts. Accordingly, this review summarizes the representative works from these aforementioned strategies so as to highlight their roles, discuss the underlying enhancement mechanisms. It is expected that this review could enlighten more in-depth and novel research about Au-based photocatalysts in the future.