Photocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by Near‐Infrared‐Light (1200 nm) Irradiation and a Ruthenium‐Intercalated NiAl‐Layered Double Hydroxide
Shaoquan Li, Zixian Li, Jianing Yue, Huijuan Wang, Yujun Wang, Wenli Su, Geoffrey I. N. Waterhouse, L.H. Liu, L.H. Liu, Wenkai Zhang, Wenkai Zhang, Yufei Zhao
Abstract
Abstract Near‐infrared light‐driven photocatalytic CO 2 reduction (NIR‐CO 2 PR) holds tremendous promise for the production of valuable commodity chemicals and fuels. However, designing photocatalysts capable of reducing CO 2 with low energy NIR photons remains challenging. Herein, a novel NIR‐driven photocatalyst comprising an anionic Ru complex intercalated between NiAl‐layered double hydroxide nanosheets (NiAl‐Ru‐LDH) is shown to deliver efficient CO 2 photoreduction (0.887 μmol h −1 ) with CO selectivity of 84.81 % under 1200 nm illumination and excellent stability over 50 testing cycles. This remarkable performance results from the intercalated Ru complex lowering the LDH band gap (0.98 eV) via a compression‐related charge redistribution phenomenon. Furthermore, transient absorption spectroscopy data verified light‐induced electron transfer from the Ru complex towards the LDH sheets, increasing the availability of electrons to drive CO 2 PR. The presence of hydroxyl defects in the LDH sheets promotes the adsorption of CO 2 molecules and lowers the energy barriers for NIR‐CO 2 PR to CO. To our knowledge, this is one of the first reports of NIR‐CO 2 PR at wavelengths up to 1200 nm in LDH‐based photocatalyst systems.