Visible light assisted photocatalytic reduction of CO2 using a graphene oxide supported heteroleptic ruthenium complex

A new heteroleptic ruthenium complex containing 2-thiophenyl benzimidazole ligands was synthesized using a microwave technique and was immobilized to graphene oxide via covalent attachment. The synthesized catalyst was used for the photoreduction of carbon dioxide under visible light irradiation without using a sacrificial agent, which gave 2050 mu mol g(-1) cat methanol after 24 h of irradiation