Nature Communication Editors' Highlights

In this newly published article, we investigate the effect of electronic excitations on photothermal catalytic CO2 hydrogenation over a Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 (CZA) catalyst by probing the surface to explore light-triggered surface reactions via X-ray spectroscopies and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The UV and visible light dual activation promotes photothermal methanol production at the copper-zinc oxide interfacial perimeter by accelerating formate conversion and hydrogen molecule activation. This finding will generate interest in exploiting new thermal catalyst systems, which can significantly benefit from light-excitation of plasmonic and/or non-plasmonic components in photo- thermal catalysis.

The article is featured in Nature Communications Editors' Highlight page.

Read full article here: Nat Commun 11, 1615 (2020)https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15445-z 

 

Teaser image
The light-aided CO2 hydrogenation reaction over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 system.

The light-aided CO2 hydrogenation reaction over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 system.