Issue 5, 2024

Solar-driven CO2-to-ethanol conversion enabled by continuous CO2 transport via a superhydrophobic Cu2O nano fence

Abstract

The overall photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction presents an eco-friendly approach for generating high-value products, specifically ethanol. However, ethanol production still faces efficiency issues (typically formation rates <605 μmol g−1 h−1). One significant challenge arises from the difficulty of continuously transporting CO2 to the catalyst surface, leading to inadequate gas reactant concentration at reactive sites. Here, we develop a mesoporous superhydrophobic Cu2O hollow structure (O–CHS) for efficient gas transport. O–CHS is designed to float on an aqueous solution and act as a nano fence, effectively impeding water infiltration into its inner space and enabling CO2 accumulation within. As CO2 is consumed at reactive sites, O–CHS serves as a gas transport channel and diffuser, continuously and promptly conveying CO2 from the gas phase to the reactive sites. This ensures a stable high CO2 concentration at reactive sites. Consequently, O–CHS achieves the highest recorded ethanol formation rate (996.18 μmol g−1 h−1) to the best of our knowledge. This strategy combines surface engineering with geometric modulation, providing a promising pathway for multi-carbon production.

Graphical abstract: Solar-driven CO2-to-ethanol conversion enabled by continuous CO2 transport via a superhydrophobic Cu2O nano fence

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
25 окт 2023
Accepted
24 ноя 2023
First published
27 ноя 2023
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2024,15, 1638-1647

Solar-driven CO2-to-ethanol conversion enabled by continuous CO2 transport via a superhydrophobic Cu2O nano fence

H. Huo, H. He, C. Huang, X. Guan, F. Wu, Y. Du, H. Xing, E. Kan and A. Li, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 1638 DOI: 10.1039/D3SC05702J

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