Translucent nanoparticle-based aerogel monoliths as 3-dimensional photocatalysts for the selective photoreduction of CO2 to methanol in a continuous flow reactor

摘要: The selective photoreduction of CO2 to methanol is an energy efficient way transform a harmful greenhouse gas into hydrocarbon great industrial importance. However, the search for photocatalysts able reduce with water turned out be extremely challenging. Besides studying new materials compositions and combinations, architectural design involving structuring catalysts from nanometer centimetre scale over three dimensions represents much less studied, but nevertheless highly promising approach development photocatalysts. Translucent nanoparticle-based aerogels their large surface areas, high porosity, well-developed crystallinity, multiscale structural features excellent light absorption properties offer all advantages successful photocatalyst. Unfortunately, mechanical fragility strongly limited use in monolithic form. Here we present prototype flow reactor, which enables direct exploitation cylindrical aerogel monoliths various phase reactions. In particular, studied performance TiO2–Au nanoparticle based methanol, resulting conversion rate 2.58 μmol g−1 h−1 selectivity. assembly nanoparticles three-dimensional macroscopic bodies, can directly introduced opens up unique opportunities beyond powders films wide range