Highly efficient visible light photocatalytic reduction of co2 to hydrocarbon fuels by cu-nanoparticle decorated graphene oxide
Journal
Nano Letters
Journal Volume
14
Journal Issue
11
Pages
6097-6103
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Shown, I.
Hsu, H.-C.
Chang, Y.-C.
Lin, C.-H.
Roy, P.K.
Ganguly, A.
Wang, C.-H.
Chang, J.-K.
Wu, C.-I.
Abstract
The production of renewable solar fuel through CO2 photoreduction, namely artificial photosynthesis, has gained tremendous attention in recent times due to the limited availability of fossil-fuel resources and global climate change caused by rising anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) decorated with copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs), hereafter referred to as Cu/GO, has been used to enhance photocatalytic CO2 reduction under visible-light. A rapid one-pot microwave process was used to prepare the Cu/GO hybrids with various Cu contents. The attributes of metallic copper nanoparticles (μ4-5 nm in size) in the GO hybrid are shown to significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity of GO, primarily through the suppression of electron-hole pair recombination, further reduction of GO's bandgap, and modification of its work function. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy studies indicate a charge transfer from GO to Cu. A strong interaction is observed between the metal content of the Cu/GO hybrids and the rates of formation and selectivity of the products. A factor of greater than 60 times enhancement in CO2 to fuel catalytic efficiency has been demonstrated using Cu/GO-2 (10 wt % Cu) compared with that using pristine GO. © 2014 American Chemical Society.
Other Subjects
Climate change; Copper; Fuels; Graphene; Light; Metal nanoparticles; Nanoparticles; Photocatalysts; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Photosynthesis; Artificial photosynthesis; Copper nanoparticles; Graphene oxides; Photo-reduction; Solar fuels; Carbon dioxide; graphite; hydrocarbon; metal nanoparticle; oxide; catalysis; chemistry; light; oxidation reduction reaction; photochemistry; solar energy; ultrastructure; Catalysis; Graphite; Hydrocarbons; Light; Metal Nanoparticles; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxides; Photochemical Processes; Solar Energy
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Type
journal article