| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2011 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Surfaces and Heterostructures at Nano- or Micro-Scale and Their Characterization, Properties, and Applications
|
| Presentation Title |
Visible Light Photoreduction of CO2 Using Heterostructures of Nanocrystalline TiO2 and Semiconductor Quantum Dots |
| Author(s) |
Christopher Matranga, Congjun Wang, Robert Thompson, John Baltrus |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Christopher Matranga |
| Abstract Scope |
The design of photocatalysts for converting CO2 into value-added chemicals and fuels is a critical area of research supporting our nation’s development of new CO2 management technologies. Historically, titanium oxide photocatalysts have been investigated for this application, however, the large band gap of this material limits it to the UV region of the solar spectrum and rapid charge carrier recombination can reduce this material’s catalytic efficiency. We report on the use of heterostructures of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), such as CdSe, with nanocrystalline TiO2 for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2. These heterostructures simultaneously improve the visible light activity of this catalyst system and spatial separate the photogenerated charge carriers, thereby reducing recombination. Our results show that these heterostructures are capable of photoreducing CO2 using only visible light (λ > 420 nm) to produce CH4 , CH3OH, and trace amounts of CO and H2. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: A CD-only volume |