Nature Communications (Jul 2024)

Photosynthesis of CH3OH via oxygen-atom-grafting from CO2 to CH4 enabled by AuPd/GaN

  • Hui Su,
  • Jing-Tan Han,
  • Botong Miao,
  • Mahdi Salehi,
  • Chao-Jun Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50801-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract The direct co-conversion of methane and carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals has been a longstanding scientific pursuit for carbon neutrality and combating climate change. Herein, we present a photo-driven chemical process that reforms these two major greenhouse gases together to generate green methanol and CO, two high-valued industrial chemicals. Isotopic labeling and control experiments indicate an oxygen-atom-graft occurs, wherein CO2 transfers one O into the C–H bond of CH4 via photo-activated interfacial catalysis with AuPd nanoparticles supported on GaN. The photoexcited AuPd/GaN interface effectively orchestrates the CH4 oxidation and the CO2 reduction producing 13.66 mmol g−1 of CH3OH yield over 10 h. This design provides a solid scientific basis for the photo-driven oxygen-atom-grafting process to be further extended to visible light region.