Dye sensitized CO2 reduction over pure and platinized TiO2

TiO2 thin and thick films promoted with platinum and organic sensitizers including novel perylene diimide dyes (PDI) were prepared and tested for carbon dioxide reduction with water under visible light. TiO2 films were prepared by a dip coating sol–gel technique. Pt was incorporated on TiO2 surface by wet impregnation [Pt(on).TiO2], or in the TiO2 film [Pt(in).TiO2] by adding the precursor in the sol. When tris (2,2′-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) chloride hexahydrate was used as sensitizer, in addition to visible light activity towards methane production, H2 evolution was also observed. Perylene diimide derivatives used in this study have shown light harvesting capability similar to the tris (2,2′-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) chloride hexahydrate.