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Published on: October 5, 2019
Optimized Carbon Coupling for Enhanced Ethylene Production via a Unique Single-Atom-Substrate Synergy Mechanism
Hongbin Xing1, Tingting Xu2, Xin Meng1
1MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing, School of Physics, Engineering Research Center of Semiconductor Device Optoelectronic Hybrid Integration in Jiangsu Province, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The utilization of solar-driven technologies for the direct conversion of methanol (CH3OH) into two or multi-carbon compounds through controlled carbon-carbon (C-C) coupling is an appealing yet challenging objective. In this study, we successfully demonstrate the photocatalytic CH3OH coupling to ethylene (C2H4), a valuable chemical raw material, by employing a carbon nitride-based catalyst. Specifically, we modify the layered polymer carbon nitride (PCN) photocatalyst through the incorporation of Au single atoms (Au1/PCN) using a chemical-scissors method. The synergistic effect between the PCN substrate and the Au single atoms reduces the potential barrier associated with C-C coupling, thereby enhancing the efficiency of CH3OH reforming to C2H4. This investigation not only reveals a novel pathway for C2H4 production via CH3OH reforming but also provides fresh insights into the possibilities of C-C coupling.
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