An Exceptionally Efficient Co−Co₂P@N, P‐Codoped Carbon Hybrid Catalyst for Visible Light‐Driven CO₂‐to‐CO Conversion

Abstract

Artificial photosynthesis has attracted wide attention, particularly the development of efficient solar light-driven methods to reduce CO₂ to form energy-rich carbon-based products. Because CO₂ reduction is an uphill process with a large energy barrier, suitable catalysts are necessary to achieve this transformation. In addition, CO₂ adsorption on a catalyst and proton transfer to CO₂ are two important factors for the conversion reaction, and catalysts with high surface area and more active sites are required to improve the efficiency of CO₂ reduction. Here, a visible light-driven system for CO₂ -to-CO conversion is reported, which consists of a heterogeneous hybrid catalyst of Co and Co₂ P nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanolayers codoped with N and P (Co-Co₂ P@NPC) and a homogeneous Ru^II -based complex photosensitizer. The average generation rate of CO of the system was up to 35 000 μmol h^-1 g^-1 with selectivity of 79.1 % in 3 h. Linear CO production at an exceptionally high rate of 63 000 μmol h^-1 g^-1 was observed in the first hour of reaction. Inspired by this highly active catalyst, Co@NC and Co₂ P@NPC materials were also synthesized and their structure, morphology, and catalytic properties for CO₂ photoreduction were explored. The results showed that the nanoparticle size, partially adsorbed H₂ O molecules on the catalyst surface, and the hybrid nature of the systems influenced their photocatalytic CO₂ reduction performance.