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Published on: June 18, 2018
ZrO2 Aerogel-Supported Pd Nanoparticles for Photothermal CO2 Reduction.
David Kiwic1, Linard Räz1, Elena Tervoort1
1Laboratory For Multifunctional Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|June 25, 2026
Summary
This study developed aerogel-supported palladium catalysts for efficient photothermal carbon dioxide reduction. These sustainable catalysts convert light into heat, driving CO2 to CO conversion with high selectivity and yield.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Decarbonizing chemical processes necessitates sustainable heat sources beyond fossil fuels.
- Photothermal catalysis utilizes light for direct catalyst heating, enhancing energy efficiency.
- Aerogel-supported catalysts offer unique properties like transparency, low thermal conductivity, and high surface area for photothermal applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate aerogel-supported palladium catalysts for efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction using photothermal catalysis.
- To investigate the impact of catalyst structure and composition on CO2 conversion efficiency and selectivity.
- To demonstrate a scalable method for producing these advanced catalytic materials.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of zirconia (ZrO2) aerogel granules via a scalable wet-impregnation approach.
- Deposition of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles onto the aerogel support using Pd-EDTA complexes.
- Characterization of the Pd/ZrO2 aerogel catalyst under concentrated white LED illumination (4.8 W cm-2).
- Co-deposition of indium (In) to enhance catalytic stability and selectivity.
Main Results:
- The Pd/ZrO2 aerogel reached temperatures up to 300°C under illumination, driving CO2 reduction to CO with ~96% selectivity.
- Co-deposition of indium (PdIn/ZrO2 aerogel) stabilized activity and increased CO selectivity to over 99%.
- PdIn/ZrO2 aerogel spheres demonstrated approximately four times higher CO production compared to powdered catalysts, due to enhanced light absorption and thermal insulation.
Conclusions:
- Aerogel-supported palladium catalysts are highly effective for photothermal CO2 reduction, offering significant advantages over traditional catalysts.
- The unique properties of aerogels, combined with optimized catalyst design (e.g., PdIn), enable efficient and selective conversion of CO2 into valuable products.
- This work presents a promising pathway towards sustainable chemical synthesis using light energy.
