An optofluidic planar microreactor with photoactive Cu2O/Mo2C/TiO2 heterostructures for enhanced visible light-driven CO2 conversion to methanol

Mixing TiO2 with Mo2C has recently been proposed to improve the photocatalytic conversion of CO2 methanol under visible light irradiation, although further efforts are still needed enhance process performance. In this context, use p-type semiconductors (i.e., Cu2O) in co-doping strategies can not only redistribution electric charges due its narrowing bandgap, but also selectivity reaction towards methanol. This work focuses on development a continuous light-driven photoconversion an optofluidic microreactor using Cu2O/Mo2C/TiO2 heterostructures. A significant improvement performance be seen heterostructures containing 4 wt% Cu2O. Superior production rates (36.3 µmol?g?1?h?1) apparent quantum yield = 0.64% and 0.93 reached, comparison results achieved at Cu2O-free Mo2C/TiO2 surfaces (11.8 µmol?g?1?h?1, 0.21% 0.92, respectively). adscribed role Cu2O The synergetic effect between Cu2O, Mo2C, may provoke more efficient charge separation transfer, while enhancing absorption properties material stability. maximum rate outperforms most values previously reported slurry batch reactors evidences possibility CO2-to-methanol metal approaches microreactors.