Carrier dynamics and the role of surface defects: Designing a photocatalyst for gas-phase CO2 reduction.

In2O3-x(OH)y nanoparticles have been shown to function as an effective gas-phase photocatalyst for the reduction of CO2 to CO via the reverse water-gas shift reaction. Their photocatalytic activity is strongly correlated to the number of oxygen vacancy and hydroxide defects present in the system. To better understand how such defects interact with photogenerated electrons and holes in these materials, we have studied the relaxation dynamics of In2O3-x(OH)y nanoparticles with varying concentration of defects using two different excitation energies corresponding to above-band-gap (318-nm) and near-band-gap (405-nm) excitations. Our results demonstrate that defects play a significant role in the excited-state, charge relaxation pathways. Higher defect concentrations result in longer excited-state lifetimes, which are attributed to improved charge separation. This correlates well with the observed trends in the photocatalytic activity. These results are further supported by density-functional theory calculations, which confirm the positions of oxygen vacancy and hydroxide defect states within the optical band gap of indium oxide. This enhanced understanding of the role these defects play in determining the optoelectronic properties and charge carrier dynamics can provide valuable insight toward the rational development of more efficient photocatalytic materials for CO2 reduction.

Photoexcited Surface Frustrated Lewis Pairs for Heterogeneous Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction.

In this study we investigated, theoretically and experimentally, the unique photoactive behavior of pristine and defected indium oxide surfaces providing fundamental insights into their excited state properties as well as an explanation for the experimentally observed enhanced activity of defected indium oxide surfaces for the gas-phase reverse water gas shift reaction, CO2 + H2 + hν→ CO + H2O in the light compared to the dark. To this end, a detailed excited-state study of pristine and defected forms of indium oxide (In2O3, In2O3-x, In2O3(OH)y and In2O3-x(OH)y) surfaces was performed using time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, the results of which were supported experimentally by transient absorption spectroscopy and photoconductivity measurements. It was found that the surface frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) created by a Lewis acidic coordinately unsaturated surface indium site proximal to an oxygen vacancy and a Lewis basic surface hydroxide site in In2O3-x(OH)y become more acidic and basic and hence more active in the ES compared to the GS. This provides a theoretical mechanism responsible for the enhanced activity and reduced activation energy of the photochemical reverse water gas shift reaction observed experimentally for In2O3-x(OH)y compared to the thermochemical reaction. This fundamental insight into the role of photoexcited surface FLPs for catalytic CO2 reduction could lead to improved photocatalysts for solar fuel production.

Illuminating CO2 reduction on frustrated Lewis pair surfaces: investigating the role of surface hydroxides and oxygen vacancies on nanocrystalline In2O(3-x)(OH)y.

Designing catalytic nanostructures that can thermochemically or photochemically convert gaseous carbon dioxide into carbon based fuels is a significant challenge which requires a keen understanding of the chemistry of reactants, intermediates and products on surfaces. In this context, it has recently been reported that the reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS), whereby carbon dioxide is reduced to carbon monoxide and water, CO2 + H2 → CO + H2O, can be catalysed by hydroxylated indium oxide nanocrystals, denoted In2O(3-x)(OH)y, more readily in the light than in the dark. The surface hydroxide groups and oxygen vacancies on In2O(3-x)(OH)y were both shown to assist this reaction. While this advance provides a first step toward the rational design and optimization of a single-component gas-phase CO2 reduction catalyst for solar fuels generation, the precise role of the hydroxide groups and oxygen vacancies in facilitating the reaction on In2O(3-x)(OH)y nanocrystals has not been resolved. In the work reported herein, for the first time we present in situ spectroscopic and kinetic observations, complemented by density functional theory analysis, that together provide mechanistic information into the surface reaction chemistry responsible for the thermochemical and photochemical RWGS reaction. Specifically, we demonstrate photochemical CO2 reduction at a rate of 150 µmol gcat(-1) hour(-1), which is four times better than the reduction rate in the dark, and propose a reaction mechanism whereby a surface active site of In2O(3-x)(OH)y, composed of a Lewis base hydroxide adjacent to a Lewis acid indium, together with an oxygen vacancy, assists the adsorption and heterolytic dissociation of H2 that enables the adsorption and reaction of CO2 to form CO and H2O as products. This mechanism, which has its analogue in molecular frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry and catalysis of CO2 and H2, is supported by preliminary kinetic investigations. The results of this study emphasize the importance of engineering the surfaces of nanostructures to facilitate gas-phase thermochemical and photochemical carbon dioxide reduction reactions to energy rich fuels at technologically significant rates.

Nanostructured Indium Oxide Coated Silicon Nanowire Arrays: A Hybrid Photothermal/Photochemical Approach to Solar Fuels.

The field of solar fuels seeks to harness abundant solar energy by driving useful molecular transformations. Of particular interest is the photodriven conversion of greenhouse gas CO2 into carbon-based fuels and chemical feedstocks, with the ultimate goal of providing a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Nonstoichiometric, hydroxylated indium oxide nanoparticles, denoted In2O3-x(OH)y, have been shown to function as active photocatalysts for CO2 reduction to CO via the reverse water gas shift reaction under simulated solar irradiation. However, the relatively wide band gap (2.9 eV) of indium oxide restricts the portion of the solar irradiance that can be utilized to ∼9%, and the elevated reaction temperatures required (150-190 °C) reduce the overall energy efficiency of the process. Herein we report a hybrid catalyst consisting of a vertically aligned silicon nanowire (SiNW) support evenly coated by In2O3-x(OH)y nanoparticles that utilizes the vast majority of the solar irradiance to simultaneously produce both the photogenerated charge carriers and heat required to reduce CO2 to CO at a rate of 22.0 µmol·gcat(-1)·h(-1). Further, improved light harvesting efficiency of the In2O3-x(OH)y/SiNW films due to minimized reflection losses and enhanced light trapping within the SiNW support results in a ∼6-fold increase in photocatalytic conversion rates over identical In2O3-x(OH)y films prepared on roughened glass substrates. The ability of this In2O3-x(OH)y/SiNW hybrid catalyst to perform the dual function of utilizing both light and heat energy provided by the broad-band solar irradiance to drive CO2 reduction reactions represents a general advance that is applicable to a wide range of catalysts in the field of solar fuels.

Spatial Separation of Charge Carriers in In2O3-x(OH)y Nanocrystal Superstructures for Enhanced Gas-Phase Photocatalytic Activity.

The development of strategies for increasing the lifetime of photoexcited charge carriers in nanostructured metal oxide semiconductors is important for enhancing their photocatalytic activity. Intensive efforts have been made in tailoring the properties of the nanostructured photocatalysts through different ways, mainly including band-structure engineering, doping, catalyst-support interaction, and loading cocatalysts. In liquid-phase photocatalytic dye degradation and water splitting, it was recently found that nanocrystal superstructure based semiconductors exhibited improved spatial separation of photoexcited charge carriers and enhanced photocatalytic performance. Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether this strategy is applicable in gas-phase photocatalysis. Using porous indium oxide nanorods in catalyzing the reverse water-gas shift reaction as a model system, we demonstrate here that assembling semiconductor nanocrystals into superstructures can also promote gas-phase photocatalytic processes. Transient absorption studies prove that the improved activity is a result of prolonged photoexcited charge carrier lifetimes due to the charge transfer within the nanocrystal network comprising the nanorods. Our study reveals that the spatial charge separation within the nanocrystal networks could also benefit gas-phase photocatalysis and sheds light on the design principles of efficient nanocrystal superstructure based photocatalysts.

Photomethanation of Gaseous CO2 over Ru/Silicon Nanowire Catalysts with Visible and Near-Infrared Photons.

Gaseous CO2 is transformed photochemically and thermochemically in the presence of H2 to CH4 at millimole per hour per gram of catalyst conversion rates, using visible and near-infrared photons. The catalyst used to drive this reaction comprises black silicon nanowire supported ruthenium. These results represent a step towards engineering broadband solar fuels tandem photothermal reactors that enable a three-step process involving i) CO2 capture, ii) gaseous water splitting into H2, and iii) reduction of gaseous CO2 by H2.

The Rational Design of a Single-Component Photocatalyst for Gas-Phase CO2 Reduction Using Both UV and Visible Light.

The solar-to-chemical energy conversion of greenhouse gas CO2 into carbon-based fuels is a very important research challenge, with implications for both climate change and energy security. Herein, the key attributes of hydroxides and oxygen vacancies are experimentally identified in non-stoichiometric indium oxide nanoparticles, In2O3-x(OH)y, that function in concert to reduce CO2 to CO under simulated solar irradiation.

Effect of organic passivation on photoinduced electron transfer across the quantum dot/TiO2 interface.

We report a study of the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of CdSe quantum-dot (QD)-sensitized solar cells prepared by direct adsorption of pre-synthesized QDs, passivated with either tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) or n-butylamine (BA), onto a nanocrystalline TiO(2) film.

CdSe quantum-dot-sensitized solar cell with ∼100% internal quantum efficiency.

We have constructed and studied photoelectrochemical solar cells (PECs) consisting of a photoanode prepared by direct deposition of independently synthesized CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) onto a nanocrystalline TiO(2) film (NQD/TiO(2)), aqueous Na(2)S or Li(2)S electrolyte, and a Pt counter electrode. We show that light harvesting efficiency (LHE) of the NQD/TiO(2) photoanode is significantly enhanced when the NQD surface passivation is changed from tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) to 4-butylamine (BA). In the PEC the use of NQDs with a shorter passivating ligand, BA, leads to a significant enhancement in both the electron injection efficiency at the NQD/TiO(2) interface and charge collection efficiency at the NQD/electrolyte interface, with the latter attributed mostly to a more efficient diffusion of the electrolyte through the pores of the photoanode. We show that by utilizing BA-capped NQDs and aqueous Li(2)S as an electrolyte, it is possible to achieve ∼100% internal quantum efficiency of photon-to-electron conversion, matching the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Carbothermal synthesis of carbon-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron particles for the remediation of hexavalent chromium.

Nanoscale, zero-valent iron is a promising reagent for in situ reduction of a variety of subsurface contaminants, but its utility in full-scale remediation projects is limited by material costs. Iron nanoparticles (20-100 nm diameter) supported on carbon (C-Fe0) were synthesized by reacting iron salts, adsorbed or impregnated from aqueous solutions onto 80 m2/g carbon black, at 600-800 degrees C under Ar. Similar products were obtained by heating the reactants under air in a covered alumina crucible. X-ray powder diffraction patterns show that Fe3O4 particles are formed at 300-500 degrees C in the initial stage of the reaction and that these particles are reduced to a mixture of alpha- and gamma-Fe nanoparticles above 600 degrees C. When C-Fe0 was combined with carboxymethylcellulose in a 5:1 weight ratio in water, the resulting material had similar transport properties to previously optimized nanoiron/polyanion suspensions in water-saturated sand columns. At a 10:3 Fe/Cr mole ratio, C-Fe0 reduced a 10 ppm Cr(VI) solution to approximately 1 ppm within three days. The surface area normalized first-order Cr removal rate was 1.2 h(-1) m(-2) under these conditions. These results demonstrate that reactive nanoiron with good transport properties in water-saturated porous media can be made in a scalable process from inexpensive starting materials by carbothermal reduction.