Photocatalytic materials like TiO2 and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) are at the forefront of solar fuel research due to their ability to convert CO2 into hydrocarbons under sunlight. Recent advancements in TiO2 nanotubes have achieved quantum efficiencies of >15% for CO2 reduction to methane (CH4), surpassing traditional catalysts by a factor of 5. Doping with nitrogen and sulfur has further extended light absorption into the visible spectrum (>500 nm), enhancing overall efficiency by 20%.
Nanostructuring plays a pivotal role in optimizing photocatalytic performance. Hierarchical g-C3N4 nanostructures with surface areas >200 m²/g have demonstrated hydrogen evolution rates of >10 mmol/g/h under simulated sunlight. Coupling these materials with co-catalysts like Pt or NiOx has reduced overpotentials by >300 mV, improving energy conversion efficiencies to >12%.
Scalability and stability remain challenges for large-scale deployment. Novel synthesis methods like microwave-assisted hydrothermal processing have reduced reaction times from hours to minutes while maintaining crystallinity and activity over >1000 cycles. Additionally, encapsulation strategies using SiO2 coatings have enhanced material stability under harsh conditions (>80°C, pH <4).
Future directions include integrating photocatalysts with artificial photosynthesis systems. Hybrid designs combining TiO2 with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have achieved CO2 conversion rates of >1 mmol/g/h under ambient conditions. Machine learning-driven catalyst discovery is accelerating the development of next-generation materials with tailored bandgaps and surface chemistries.
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