LaNixFe1-xO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) as photothermal catalysts for hydrocarbon fuels production from CO2 and H2O

LaNixFe1-xO3 perovskite compounds (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) were successfully synthesized by a sol-gel combustion method. The crystal structure, morphology, BET surface area, oxygen vacancies, band gap and catalytic properties of the catalyst were characterized in detail. The results showed that LaNi0.4Fe0.6O3 compound exhibits the best photothermal catalytic performance. Under the same catalytic conditions (350 degrees C + Vislight), CH4 and CH3OH yields are about 3.5 and 4.0 times, 1.8 and 2.1 times of that of LaFeO3 and LaNiO3. It was found that all the solid solutions possesses better catalytic properties than the pure end compounds. The doping of Ni lead to a significant modification with the quantity of oxygen vacancies and band gaps. These findings may further broaden the materials scope for photothermal conversion of CO2 and H2O.