Transition Metal‐Based Perovskite Derivatives for Selective CO <sub>2</sub> Photoreduction: Role of Orbital Occupancy
Shivani Choudhary, Naveen Kumar Tailor, Guguloth Venkanna, Nikhil Kumar Singh, Pabitra Kumar Nayak, Jasmeet Kaur, Diku Raj Deka, Sebastian C. Peter, Dibyajyoti Ghosh, Kamal Kishore Pant, Komal Tripathi, Soumitra Satapathi
Abstract
Abstract Transition metals are renowned for their effective catalytic properties. Incorporating transition metals into halide perovskite derivatives is a key strategy for tuning the properties of perovskites to enhance their photocatalytic performance. Understanding the d‐orbital occupancy and spin activity of these transition metals in the CO 2 photoreduction process is essential for fully realizing the photocatalytic potential of these materials. In this study, layered perovskite derivatives are synthesized using cobalt (Co) and copper (Cu) as transition metal components. We observed that Cu and Co exhibit complementary absorption properties attributed to their d‐orbital configuration. Additionally, (DMAP) 2 CuCl 4 (DMAP = 4‐Dimethylaminopyridine) exhibited the highest performance in CO 2 photoreduction with remarkable selectivity for CH 4 formation (≈97%). Pressure‐dependent experiments showed that higher pressures enhance catalytic activity by improving CO 2 saturation and adsorption, accelerating the reaction rate and boosting product yield. The ferromagnetism, hysteresis, and strong spin species detection of (DMAP) 2 CuCl 4 enhance carrier separation and charge availability, boosting CO 2 conversion efficiency. Further, the first‐principles‐based atomistic computations reveal that a more delocalized conduction band edge makes mobile electrons available for CO 2 reduction in (DMAP) 2 CuX 4 . These findings guide the design of selective CO 2 reduction photocatalysts and highlight layered perovskite derivatives for sustainable energy solutions.