Twisted BiOCl Moiré Superlattices for Photocatalytic Chloride Reforming of Methane
Linghao Yu, Xupeng Liu, Hao Zhang, Biao Zhou, Ziyue Chen, Hao Li, Lizhi Zhang
Abstract
Solar-driven conversion of CH 4 into value-added methyl chlorides and H 2 with abundant chloride ions offers a sustainable CH 4 reforming strategy but suffers from inefficient Cl – activation and severe e – –h + recombination in traditional photocatalysts. Herein, we demonstrate that BiOCl moiré superlattices with a 11.1° twist angle are highly efficient for photocatalytic CH 4 reforming into CH 3 Cl and H 2 with NaCl. These moiré superlattices, featuring misalignment-induced tensile strains, destabilize surface Bi–Cl bonds, facilitating a hole-mediated MvK-analogous process to activate lattice Cl into reactive • Cl for CH 4 chlorination. Meanwhile, their twisted stacking configurations reinforce interlayer electronic coupling and thus accelerate out-of-plane carrier transfer. Along with surface anchoring of single-atom Pt sites for H 2 evolution, the resulting Pt 1 /BiOCl moiré superlattices deliver a CH 3 Cl yield of 53.4 μmol g –1 h –1 with an impressive selectivity of 96% under visible light. This study highlights the potential of lattice engineering in two-dimensional photocatalysts to regulate structural strains and carrier dynamics for the decentralized reforming of CH 4 .