The photocatalytic reduction of CO2 presents an alternative strategy to produce mobile energy sources without the consumption of fossil fuels. Titania-based materials such as isolated titanates and the bulk oxide have been shown to be active catalysts in this reaction. Isolated titania sites are useful materials for mechanistic studies. However, the activity is still too low for an industrial application.  In our studies, samples were doped with Au nanoparticles, which led to a doubling in hydrocarbon yield.  Furthermore, the modification of the photocatalysts with ZnO is studied. Lewis basic ZnO can efficiently adsorb CO2 and therefore increase the surface coverage of the reactant. Two different methods were used to introduce ZnO to the titania-based catalysts. The activity tests in a metal-sealed, vacuum-tight photoreactor showed that isolated ZnO domains lower the activity, whereas clustered domains enhance it. Also the influence of increasing H2O/CO2 ratio was investigated.

Effect of the structure of ZnO on the photocatalytic activity of isolated titanate

247th National Meeting (2014)

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