Atomically precise metal nanoclusters combine with MXene towards solar CO₂ conversion

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Photocatalysis

Background:

• Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) are promising photosensitizers due to quantum confinement and catalytic sites.
• Precise charge modulation in metal NCs remains challenging due to short carrier lifetimes and poor stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the integration of metal NCs with MXene and transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) for efficient charge motion.
• To engineer a ternary heterostructure for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a ternary heterostructure comprising metal NCs, MXene, and TMCs.
• Interface design and energy level alignment engineering to control charge transport.
• Investigation of visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO2 to CO reduction.

Main Results:

• The heterostructure facilitates tunable, precise, and high-efficiency charge motion over metal NCs.
• A spatial cascade charge transport route is established, boosting charge separation efficiency.
• Significantly enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance is achieved.

Conclusions:

• The engineered metal NCs/TMCs/MXene heterostructure offers a promising platform for solar-to-fuel conversion.
• Controllable charge migration between atomically precise metal NCs and MXene is achieved.
• This work provides a new strategy for developing advanced photocatalytic systems.