An iron-nitrogen doped carbon and CdS hybrid catalytic system for efficient CO2 photochemical reduction

Iron porphyrin and carbon black (CB) were utilized to fabricate an iron-nitrogen doped carbon (Fe-N-C) catalyst to create a new heterogeneous catalytic system with CdS to drive CO2 reduction to CO under UV/vis light (AM 1.5G) irradiation. The system delivers a high CO production yield of 111 mmol g(cat)(-1) and a large turnover number (TON) of 1.22 x 10(3) in 8 h with a selectivity of 85%, all of which are competitive with state-of-the-art systems. The mechanism of the system was investigated by experimental and theoretical methods indicating that the high affinity between the iron active center and the *COOH intermediate facilitates the brilliant catalytic performance. This work provides a new direction for constructing heterogeneous CO2 photoreduction systems.

Automated summary

In this study, an iron-nitrogen doped carbon catalyst was fabricated using iron porphyrin and carbon black, which enabled a high CO production yield and large turnover number in driving CO2 reduction to CO under UV/vis light irradiation. The mechanism of the system, including the high affinity between the iron active center and the *COOH intermediate, was investigated through experimental and theoretical methods. This work presents a new direction for constructing heterogeneous CO2 photoreduction systems.