Co Cluster-Modified Ni Nanoparticles with Superior Light-Driven Thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by CH<sub>4</sub>

Excessive fossil burning causes energy shortages and contributes to the environmental crisis. Light-driven thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction by methane (CRM) provides an effective strategy to conquer these two global challenges. Ni-based catalysts have been developed as candidates...

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Main Authors: Mei Li, Yuhua Zhang, Na Sun, Dan Cheng, Peng Sun, Qian Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5338
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author Mei Li
Yuhua Zhang
Na Sun
Dan Cheng
Peng Sun
Qian Zhang
author_facet Mei Li
Yuhua Zhang
Na Sun
Dan Cheng
Peng Sun
Qian Zhang
author_sort Mei Li
collection DOAJ
description Excessive fossil burning causes energy shortages and contributes to the environmental crisis. Light-driven thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction by methane (CRM) provides an effective strategy to conquer these two global challenges. Ni-based catalysts have been developed as candidates for CRM that are comparable to the noble metal catalysts. However, they are prone to deactivation due to the thermodynamically inevitable coking side reactions. Herein, we reported a novel Co-Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposite of Co cluster-modified Ni nanoparticles, which greatly enhance the catalytic durability for light-driven thermocatalytic CRM. It exhibits high production rates of H<sub>2</sub> (<i>r</i><sub>H2</sub>) and CO (<i>r</i><sub>CO</sub>, 22.8 and 26.7 mmol min<sup>−1</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>, respectively), and very high light-to-fuel efficiency (<i>ƞ</i>) is achieved (26.8%). Co-Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub> shows better catalytic durability than the referenced catalyst of Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub>. Based on the experimental results of TG-MS, TEM, and HRTEM, we revealed the origin of the significantly enhanced light-driven thermocatalytic activity and durability as well as the novel photoactivation. It was discovered that the focused irradiation markedly reduces the apparent activation energy of CO<sub>2</sub> on the Co-Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposite, thus significantly enhancing the light-driven thermocatalytic activity.
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spelling doaj-art-77dd1950c4bc4c2abcd5f87fefd85a5a2025-08-20T02:48:01ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-11-012922533810.3390/molecules29225338Co Cluster-Modified Ni Nanoparticles with Superior Light-Driven Thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by CH<sub>4</sub>Mei Li0Yuhua Zhang1Na Sun2Dan Cheng3Peng Sun4Qian Zhang5School of Life Science and Technology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, ChinaExcessive fossil burning causes energy shortages and contributes to the environmental crisis. Light-driven thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction by methane (CRM) provides an effective strategy to conquer these two global challenges. Ni-based catalysts have been developed as candidates for CRM that are comparable to the noble metal catalysts. However, they are prone to deactivation due to the thermodynamically inevitable coking side reactions. Herein, we reported a novel Co-Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposite of Co cluster-modified Ni nanoparticles, which greatly enhance the catalytic durability for light-driven thermocatalytic CRM. It exhibits high production rates of H<sub>2</sub> (<i>r</i><sub>H2</sub>) and CO (<i>r</i><sub>CO</sub>, 22.8 and 26.7 mmol min<sup>−1</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>, respectively), and very high light-to-fuel efficiency (<i>ƞ</i>) is achieved (26.8%). Co-Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub> shows better catalytic durability than the referenced catalyst of Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub>. Based on the experimental results of TG-MS, TEM, and HRTEM, we revealed the origin of the significantly enhanced light-driven thermocatalytic activity and durability as well as the novel photoactivation. It was discovered that the focused irradiation markedly reduces the apparent activation energy of CO<sub>2</sub> on the Co-Ni/SiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposite, thus significantly enhancing the light-driven thermocatalytic activity.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5338light-driven thermocatalysisCO<sub>2</sub> reductionNi-based catalystCo cluster-modifiedcarbon deposition resistance
spellingShingle Mei Li
Yuhua Zhang
Na Sun
Dan Cheng
Peng Sun
Qian Zhang
Co Cluster-Modified Ni Nanoparticles with Superior Light-Driven Thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by CH<sub>4</sub>
Molecules
light-driven thermocatalysis
CO<sub>2</sub> reduction
Ni-based catalyst
Co cluster-modified
carbon deposition resistance
title Co Cluster-Modified Ni Nanoparticles with Superior Light-Driven Thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by CH<sub>4</sub>
title_full Co Cluster-Modified Ni Nanoparticles with Superior Light-Driven Thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by CH<sub>4</sub>
title_fullStr Co Cluster-Modified Ni Nanoparticles with Superior Light-Driven Thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by CH<sub>4</sub>
title_full_unstemmed Co Cluster-Modified Ni Nanoparticles with Superior Light-Driven Thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by CH<sub>4</sub>
title_short Co Cluster-Modified Ni Nanoparticles with Superior Light-Driven Thermocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction by CH<sub>4</sub>
title_sort co cluster modified ni nanoparticles with superior light driven thermocatalytic co sub 2 sub reduction by ch sub 4 sub
topic light-driven thermocatalysis
CO<sub>2</sub> reduction
Ni-based catalyst
Co cluster-modified
carbon deposition resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5338
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