Room-Temperature Activation of CO₂ by Dual Defect-Stabilized Nanoscale Hematite (Fe_2-δO_3-v ): Concurrent Role of Fe and O Vacancies.

ABSTRACT: We demonstrate that synthetically controlled concurrent stabilization of Fe and O vacancy defects on the surface of interbraided nanoscale hematite (Fe_2-δO_3-v ) renders an interesting surface chemistry which can reduce CO₂ to CO at room temperature (RT). Importantly, we realized a highly enhanced output of 410 μmol h^-1 g^-1 at RT, as compared to that of 10 μmol h^-1 g^-1 for bulk hematite. It is argued based on the activity degradation under cycling and first principles density functional theory calculations that the excess chemical energy embedded in the defect-stabilized surface is expended in this high-energy conversion process, which leads to progressive filling up of oxygen vacancies.

SUBMITTER: Nagaraju D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6645434 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature