Selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction in aerobic environment by microporous Pd-porphyrin-based polymers coated hollow TiO2

Direct photocatalytic CO2 reduction from primary sources, such as flue gas and air, into fuels, is highly desired, but the thermodynamically favored O-2 reduction almost completely impedes this process. Herein, we report on the efficacy of a composite photocatalyst prepared by hyper-crosslinking porphyrin-based polymers on hollow TiO2 surface and subsequent coordinating with Pd(II). Such composite exhibits high resistance against O-2 inhibition, leading to 12% conversion yield of CO2 from air after 2-h UV-visible light irradiation. In contrast, the CO2 reduction over Pd/TiO2 without the polymer is severely inhibited by the presence of O-2 ( >= 0.2 %). This study presents a feasible strategy, building Pd(II) sites into CO2-adsorptive polymers on hollow TiO2 surface, for realizing CO2 reduction with H2O in an aerobic environment by the high CO2/O-2 adsorption selectivity of polymers and efficient charge separation for CO2 reduction and H2O oxidation on Pd(II) sites and hollow TiO2, respectively. While selective CO2 reduction is crucial for its removal from the environment, the presence of O-2 hinders this process. Here authors show CO2 photoreduction in the presence of O-2 by incorporating Pd(II) sites into a coordination polymer on TiO2 to selectively adsorb CO2.

Automated summary

By incorporating Pd(II) sites into a coordination polymer on TiO2, selective adsorption of CO2 can be achieved for photocatalytic reduction in the presence of O-2, facilitating the conversion of CO2 to fuels.