Efficient Visible-Light-Driven CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by a Cobalt Molecular Catalyst Covalently Linked to Mesoporous Carbon Nitride
Bing Ma, Gui Chen, Claire Fave, Lingjing Chen, Ryo Kuriki, Kazuhiko Maeda, Osamu Ishitani, Tai‐Chu Lau, Julien Bonin, Marc Robert
Abstract
Achieving visible-light-driven carbon dioxide reduction with high selectivity control and durability while using only earth abundant elements requires new strategies. Hybrid catalytic material was prepared upon covalent grafting a Co–quaterpyridine molecular complex to semiconductive mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg-C3N4) through an amide linkage. The molecular material was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, including XPS, IR, and impedance spectroscopy. It proved to be a selective catalyst for CO production in acetonitrile using a solar simulator with a high 98% selectivity, while being remarkably robust since no degradation was observed after 4 days of irradiation (ca. 500 catalytic cycles). This unique combination of a selective molecular catalyst with a simple and robust semiconductive material opens new pathways for CO2 catalytic light-driven reduction.