Direct Coupling of Thermo- and Photocatalysis for Conversion of CO 2 -H 2 O into Fuels

Photocatalytic CO reduction into renewable hydrocarbon solar fuels is considered as a promising strategy to simultaneously address global energy and environmental issues. This study focused on the direct coupling of photocatalytic water splitting and thermocatalytic hydrogenation of CO in the conversion of CO -H O into fuels. Specifically, it was found that direct coupling of thermo- and photocatalysis over Au-Ru/TiO leads to activity 15 times higher (T=358 K; ca. 99 % CH selectivity) in the conversion of CO -H O into fuels than that of photocatalytic water splitting. This is ascribed to the promoting effect of thermocatalytic hydrogenation of CO by hydrogen atoms generated in situ by photocatalytic water splitting.