CO2 conversion to oxygenate fuels using nanocomposite photocatalysts

As we know, conversion of CO₂ to oxygenate fuels in the presence of photocatalysts is a promising route for sequestration of environmental concern (increasing the amount of CO₂) and depletion of fossil fuels and high demand for energy. So far in this field, we have worked under two nanocomposite systems including CNT/ZnO-CuO [1] and Pd/TiO₂-Fe₂O₃ [2]. CNT/ZnO-CuO as a p-n junction system applied as an efficient photocatalyst for photochemical conversion of CO₂ to ethanol, oxalic acid and formaldehyde. For each photosynthetic product, a reaction scheme was proposed on the basis of physicochemical phenomena. In the second work, Pd/TiO₂-Fe₂O₃ was employed in the CO₂ photoreduction (hydrogenation) process and various oxygenate (C/H/O) products [including ethanol, methanol and formaldehyde as well as oxalic, acetic and formic acids] were synthesized in the reaction medium. After that, through photoelectrochemical studies of the solar-energy-materials, the photon-to-electron conversion ability of the photocatalysts was examined. Finally, the matter of CO₂ photoconversion into oxygenate fuels/chemicals was explained in detail from photoelectrochemical [semiconductor band structure and redox potential] as well as mechanistic perspectives. Our present study focus on CO₂ photoreduction under CNT/Fe₂O₃/NiO nanocomposite, this semiconductor is mesoporous and a p-n junction system, which we predict that in the presence of it, the charge recombination will reduce and cause a conspicuous increase in the photocurrent and an obvious increment in the total yield of the photosynthesized products. Finally we are going to analysis the products and propose a mechanism for various products being produced at a fixed reaction period. My further works include photo conversion of CO₂ using efficient photocatalyst (high surface area, mesoporous, nanostructured with high absorbance for CO₂ and visible light photocurrent and low impedance from oxides group including C, N, Ni Co elements) and apply it for photoconversion of CO₂ and finally analysis the product in both gas and liquid phase. 
 
References:
[1]  M. Lashgari, S. Soodi, P. Zeinalkhani, “Photocatalytic back-conversion of CO₂ into oxygenate fuels using an efficient ZnO/CuO/carbon nanotube solar-energy-material: Artificial photosynthesis”, Journal of CO₂. Utilization, vol.18, pp. 89-97, 2017
[2]  M. Lashgari, S.Soodi, “Photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into oxygenate fuels/chemicals using efficient, eco-friendly, nanostructured solar-energy materials”, Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2018 (submitted)