Light-promoted conversion of greenhouse gases over plasmonic metal-carbide nanocomposite catalysts

Nanocomposite catalysts consisting of metallic cobalt and tantalum carbide were synthesized and they efficiently promoted an uphill conversion of greenhouse gases including CO2 and CH4 into CO and H-2 under visible light. Electromagnetic simulations demonstrated that the efficient energy transformation by Co@TaC was attributed to the enhanced surface-located plasmon resonance.