Tailoring Electronic Structures via Ce/C Co-Doping and Oxygen Vacancy in TiO₂ Aerogels for Enhanced Solar Fuel Production.

ABSTRACT: A targeted modification approach involving the synthesis of Ce/C co-doped TiO₂ aerogels (CeCTi) via a sol-gel method combined with supercritical CO₂ drying and subsequent heat treatment is employed to enhance the photocatalytic CO₂ reduction performance of cost-effective and stable TiO₂ aerogels. The results demonstrate that the CeCTi exhibits a pearl-like porous network structure, an optical band gap of 2.90 eV, and a maximum specific surface area of 188.81 m²/g. The black aerogel sample shows an enhanced light absorption capability resulting from the Ce/C co-doping, which is attributed to the formation of oxygen vacancies. Under simulated sunlight irradiation, the production rates of CH₄ and CO reach 27.06 and 97.11 μmol g

SUBMITTER: Guan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12940982 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature