Cobalt Plasmonic Superstructures Enable Almost 100% Broadband Photon Efficient CO₂ Photocatalysis

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Heterogeneous photocatalysis efficiency is limited by poor solar spectrum utilization.
• Capturing and utilizing broad solar wavelengths remains a challenge for solar energy conversion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a light-harvesting plasmonic superstructure for enhanced solar energy conversion.
• To improve the efficiency of photothermal carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a plasmonic superstructure using cobalt nanocrystals within porous silica on a fluorine tin oxide substrate.
• Utilizing enhanced plasmonic excitation and inter-/intra-band transitions for strong sunlight absorption.
• Employing the superstructure for photothermal hydrogenation of CO2.

Main Results:

• Achieved nearly 100% sunlight harvesting ability.
• Demonstrated a 20-fold rate increase in CO2 hydrogenation compared to silica-supported cobalt catalysts.
• Successfully coupled light-absorbing plasmonic superstructures with photothermal catalysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed plasmonic superstructure effectively captures broad solar spectrum light.
• This approach significantly enhances CO2 hydrogenation rates, paving the way for complete solar energy utilization in catalysis.