Published in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

“Artificial photosynthesis using a suspension system of photocatalyst particles in water” by Tomiko M Suzuki et al., in collaboration with the Tokyo University of Science, was published in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

During artificial photosynthesis, where carbon compounds are synthesized from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide (CO₂), suspending photocatalyst particles in water is expected to reduce the cost of the system. In this study, we developed an artificial photosynthesis system that operates based on a two-step photoexcitation (Z-scheme) mechanism similar to that of plants using a simple mixture of semiconductor photocatalyst particles and water-soluble metal complex in an aqueous solution. In this system, newly developed metal complex molecules act as both an electron mediator between two photocatalysts and CO₂-reduction catalyst. Thus, visible light driven CO₂ reduction and water oxidation reactions spontaneously occur in water. Furthermore, owing to the considerable amount of suppressed hydrogen generation in water, the CO₂ to CO conversion could achieve high CO₂ selectivity (98%) and reaction rate (over 10 times the conventional rate) in an aqueous suspension system, which is higher than the reported values. These results will contribute to the development of a carbon-neutral society.

Title: Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction by a Z-scheme Mechanism in an Aqueous Suspension of Particulate (CuGa)_0.3Zn_1.4S₂, BiVO₄ and a Co Complex Operating Dual-functionally as an Electron Mediator and as a Cocatalyst
Authors: Suzuki, TM., Yoshino, S., Sekizawa, K., Yamaguchi, Y., Kudo, A., Morikawa, T.
Journal Name: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Published: June 8, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121600