Photocatalytic CO2 reduction highly enhanced by oxygen vacancies on Pt-nanoparticle-dispersed gallium oxide

• Published in: Nano research 2016-06, Vol.9 (6), p.1689-1700
• Main Authors: Pan, Yun-Xiang, Sun, Zheng-Qing, Cong, Huai-Ping, Men, Yu-Long, Xin, Sen, Song, Jie, Yu, Shu-Hong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Carbon dioxide; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemistry and Materials Science; CO2; Condensed Matter Physics; Fabrication; Gallium; Gallium oxides; Materials Science; Metal oxides; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Oxides; Oxygen; Photocatalysis; Platinum; Pt／TiO2; Reduction (metal working); Research Article; Titanium dioxide; Vacancies; 二氧化碳; 光催化还原; 氧化镓; 氧空位; 纳米颗粒; 金属氧化物催化剂
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-016-1063-4

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction on metal-oxide-based catalysts is promising for solving the energy and environmental crises faced by mankind. The oxygen vacancy （Vo） on metal oxides is expected to be a key factor affecting the efficiency of photocatalytic CO2 reduction on metal-oxide-based catalysts. Yet, to date, the question of how an Vo influences photocatalytic CO2 reduction is still unanswered. Herein, we report that, on Vo-rich gallium oxide coated with Pt nanoparticles （Vo-rich Pt/Ga203）, CO2 is photocatalytically reduced to CO, with a highly enhanced CO evolution rate （21.0umol.h-1） compared to those on Vo-poor Pt/Ga2O3 （3.9 gmol-h-1） and Pt/TiO2（P25） （6.7 gmol.h-1）. We demonstrate that the Vo leads to improved CO2 adsorption and separation of the photoinduced charges on Pt/Ga203, thus enhancing the photocatalytic activity of Pt/Ga203. Rational fabrication of an Vo is thereby an attractive strategy for developing efficient catalysts for photocatalytic CO2 reduction.