Oxidizing Role of Cu Cocatalysts in Unassisted Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction Using p-GaN/Al₂O₃/Au/Cu Heterostructures.

ABSTRACT: Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction to CO under unassisted (unbiased) conditions was recently demonstrated using heterostructure catalysts that combine p-type GaN with plasmonic Au nanoparticles and Cu nanoparticles as cocatalysts (p-GaN/Al₂O₃/Au/Cu). Here, we investigate the mechanistic role of Cu in p-GaN/Al₂O₃/Au/Cu under unassisted photocatalytic operating conditions using Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. Upon exposure to gas-phase CO₂ and H₂O vapor reaction conditions, the composition of the Cu nanoparticles is identified as a mixture of Cu^I and Cu^II oxide, hydroxide, and carbonate compounds without metallic Cu. These composition changes, indicating oxi

SUBMITTER: Zoric MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11295187 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature