Copper Deposited on Reduced Titania as Catalyst for the Production of CH4 from Sunlight and Air

Abstract

Atmospheric CO2 and H2O adsorbed on the photocatalyst surface undergo sunlight-assisted conversion to solar products that bridge the gaps between artificial and natural photosynthesis. Herein, we report a Lewis acid-base interaction derived photocatalyst, Cu deposited on reduced titania, that harvests CO2 and H2O from the air and transforms them to CH4. Photocatalyst surface studies confirm that coordinately unsaturated Cu atoms and oxygen vacancies are formed that facilitate CO2 and H2O adsorption. The mechanistic studies, combined with tandem secondary ion mass spectroscopy and isotopic labelling, confirm the CH4 origin from atmosphere-adsorbed CO2 and H2O. The contributing factors to photocatalyst instability are explored. We expect that this study will have an impact on the widespread application and economic viability of photocatalytic CO2 reduction. © 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.