Near-Infrared-Responsive Catalysts for Gas-Solid Phase Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction: Design Strategies, Performance,...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and fossil fuel depletion necessitate sustainable CO2 conversion technologies.
• Gas-solid phase photocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2RR) offers advantages over liquid-phase systems, including better mass transfer and product separation.
• Limited utilization of near-infrared (NIR) light by traditional photocatalysts restricts solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review NIR-responsive photocatalysts for gas-solid phase CO2RR.
• To explore design strategies for enhancing NIR light absorption and catalytic activity.
• To provide insights into advancing CO2RR technologies for carbon neutrality.

Main Methods:

• Engineering metallic/narrow-bandgap conductors.
• Introducing defects and intermediate bands.
• Constructing plasmonic heterojunctions, atomic doping, and integrating single-atom active sites.
• Developing metal-free photothermal systems.

Main Results:

• Developed strategies effectively extend spectral response, enhance charge separation, and optimize CO2 activation.
• Representative catalysts demonstrate efficient NIR-driven CO2 reduction to valuable products like CO, methane, and methanol.
• Achieved high selectivity and stability in NIR-driven CO2RR.

Conclusions:

• NIR-responsive photocatalysts are crucial for unlocking full-spectrum solar energy utilization in CO2RR.
• Advanced catalyst design strategies address key challenges in solar-driven CO2 conversion.
• This research advances practical CO2RR technologies, contributing to carbon neutrality goals.