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Selective and efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO using visible light and an iron-based homogeneous catalyst
Julien Bonin1, Marc Robert, Mathilde Routier
1Université Paris Diderot , Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire d'Electrochimie Moléculaire, UMR 7591 CNRS, 15 rue Jean-Antoine de Baïf, F-75205 Paris Cedex 13, France.
Abstract:
Converting CO2 into valuable compounds using sunlight as the energy input and an earth-abundant metal complex as the catalyst is an exciting challenge related to contemporary energy issues as well as to climate change. By using an inexpensive organic photosensitizer under visible-light excitation (λ > 400 nm) and a substituted iron(0) tetraphenylporphyrin as a homogeneous catalyst, we have been able to generate carbon monoxide from CO2 selectively with high turnover numbers. Sustained catalytic activity over a long time period (t > 50 h) did not lead to catalyst or sensitizer deactivation. A catalytic mechanism is proposed.
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