Role of water and carbonates in photocatalytic transformation of CO 2 to CH4 on titania

Nada M. Dimitrijevic, Baiju K. Vijayan, Oleg G. Poluektov, Tijana Rajh, Kimberly A. Gray, Haiying He, Peter Zapol

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

413 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using the electron paramagnetic resonance technique, we have elucidated the multiple roles of water and carbonates in the overall photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to methane over titania nanoparticles. The formation of H atoms (reduction product) and •OH radicals (oxidation product) from water, and CO3- radical anions (oxidation product) from carbonates, was detected in CO2-saturated titania aqueous dispersion under UV illumination. Additionally, methoxyl, •OCH3, and methyl, •CH3, radicals were identified as reaction intermediates. The two-electron, one-proton reaction proposed as an initial step in the reduction of CO2 on the surface of TiO2 is supported by the results of first-principles calculations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3964-3971
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume133
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 23 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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