On the Selectivity of Simultaneous CO2 and N-2 Reduction Using TiO2/Carbon Sphere Photocatalysts Prepared by Microwave Treatment and Mounted on Silica Cloth

This paper presents new photocatalysts obtained by treating carbon spheres (CS) and TiO2 in a microwave reactor at a pressure of 20 atm and a temperature of up to 300 C-? for 15 min and then depositing TiO2/CS composites on glass fibre cloths. Such highly CO2-adsorbing photocatalysts showed photoactivity in the simultaneous water-splitting process, generating H-2, reducing CO2 to CO and CH2, and reducing N-2 to NH3. In addition, calculations of the hydrogen balance involved in all reactions were performed. Adding 1 g of carbon spheres per 1 g of TiO2 maintained the high selectivity of nitrogen fixation at 95.87-99.5%, which was continuously removed from the gas phase into the water as NH4+ ions.

Automated summary

This study presents new photocatalysts obtained by treating carbon spheres and TiO2 in a microwave reactor at high pressure and temperature, and depositing them on glass fibre cloths. These photocatalysts showed high CO2-adsorption and photoactivity in simultaneous water-splitting process, generating H-2, reducing CO2 to CO and CH2, and reducing N-2 to NH3. The addition of carbon spheres maintained a high selectivity of nitrogen fixation.