Spatially separated oxygen vacancies and nickel sites for ensemble promotion of selective CO2 photoreduction to CO

Guoxin Zhuang; Bixia Yang; Weishan Jiang; Xinwen Ou; Lin Zhao; Yonglin Wen; Zanyong Zhuang; Zhang Lin; Yan Yu

Cell Reports Physical Science (Feb 2022)

Spatially separated oxygen vacancies and nickel sites for ensemble promotion of selective CO2 photoreduction to CO

Guoxin Zhuang,
Bixia Yang,
Weishan Jiang,
Xinwen Ou,
Lin Zhao,
Yonglin Wen,
Zanyong Zhuang,
Zhang Lin,
Yan Yu

Affiliations

Guoxin Zhuang: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Technologies, Fuzhou University, Fujian 350108, China
Bixia Yang: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Technologies, Fuzhou University, Fujian 350108, China
Weishan Jiang: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Technologies, Fuzhou University, Fujian 350108, China
Xinwen Ou: Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Technology and Device, Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road 38, Hangzhou 310027, China
Lin Zhao: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Technologies, Fuzhou University, Fujian 350108, China
Yonglin Wen: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Technologies, Fuzhou University, Fujian 350108, China
Zanyong Zhuang: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Technologies, Fuzhou University, Fujian 350108, China; Corresponding author
Zhang Lin: School of Metallurgy and Environment, Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China; Corresponding author
Yan Yu: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Technologies, Fuzhou University, Fujian 350108, China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3, no. 2
p. 100724

Abstract

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Summary: The CO2 reduction reaction (CRR), which is key to addressing global environmental and energy issues, must overcome the strong C = O bond and is hindered by low CRR selectivity and activity. Here, we unravel the ensemble effect of catalytically active sites for promotion of CRR while suppressing hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs). We design a 2D/2D hybrid consisting of an ordered assembly of nickel-rich Ni-Mn layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets (NSs) and oxygen vacancies (OVs)-rich Mn3O4 (OVs-Mn3O4) NSs. On its own, Ni-Mn LDH demonstrates high CRR selectivity but mediocre CRR efficiency, whereas OVs-Mn3O4 gives a higher efficiency but poorer selectivity. The 2D/2D hybrid inherits advantages from both components, attaining high CRR selectivity and markedly higher efficiency than Ni-Mn LDH and OVs-Mn3O4. Calculations and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) measurements reveal that nickel sites in the 2D/2D hybrid activate CO2 to generate CO2•– via a one-electron injection, whereas OVs in OVs-Mn3O4 promote light harvesting and charge transport without activating unwanted HERs.

Published in Cell Reports Physical Science

ISSN: 2666-3864 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science

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