Selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CH4 over metal-free porous polyimide in the solid-gas mode

Using a catalyst-free one-pot polycondensation approach, a new donor-acceptor (D-A) based porous polyimide (PeTt-POP) photocatalyst was developed. PeTt-POP produced CH4 (125.63 ppm g(-1) in 6 h) from CO2 under visible light irradiation in the gas-solid mode without the use of co-catalysts or sacrificial agents. The progress of the reaction and the corresponding intermediate species involved in the CO2 reduction were identified by operando DRIFTS experiments, from which a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed.

Automated summary

A new porous polyimide photocatalyst PeTt-POP was developed using a catalyst-free approach, which can convert CO2 to CH4 under visible light irradiation without the use of additional co-catalysts or sacrificial agents. The progress of the reaction and the related intermediate species were identified through operando DRIFTS experiments, and a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed.