Artificial Photosynthesis of Alcohols by Multi-Functionalized Semiconductor Photocathodes.
Yuqian ZhangBo HanYanjie XuDongning ZhaoYongjian JiaRong NieZhouhe ZhuFengjuan ChenJianguo WangHuanwang JingPublished in: ChemSusChem (2017)
Novel artificial photosynthesis systems are devised as cells of dye/Pd/NR-MOx (M=Ti, Zn)∥CoPi/W:BiVO4 that convert efficiently CO2 to alcohols. The photocathodes are aminofunctionalized, palladium-deposited, and in situ sensitized nano-TiO2 or ZnO/FTO (FTO: fluorine-doped tin oxide) electrodes that are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), TEM, XRD, UV/Vis spectra, and evaluated by electrochemical techniques. The cell of dye/Pd/S-TiO2 ∥CoPi/W:BiVO4 uniquely generates ethanol under irradiation of 200 mW cm-2 , reaching 0.56 % quantum efficiency (QE) at -0.56 V and 0.13 % QE without external electron supply. The cell of dye/Pd/ N-ZnO∥CoPi/W:BiVO4 produces solely methanol at a rate of 42.8 μm h-1 cm-2 at -0.56 V of a Si solar cell, which is far less than the electrochemical voltage of water splitting (1.23 V). Its QE reaches to 0.38 %, which is equal to plants. The isotopic labeling experiments confirm the carbon source and oxygen releasing. The selectivity for alcohols of multi-functionalized semiconductors is discussed.
Keyphrases
- visible light
- quantum dots
- single cell
- cell therapy
- reduced graphene oxide
- room temperature
- gold nanoparticles
- molecularly imprinted
- high resolution
- ionic liquid
- risk assessment
- radiation therapy
- computed tomography
- induced apoptosis
- highly efficient
- heavy metals
- molecular dynamics
- mass spectrometry
- oxidative stress
- cell death
- bone marrow
- magnetic resonance imaging
- density functional theory
- aqueous solution
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- positron emission tomography