Key photocatalyst technology for converting greenhouse gases into future fuels

A joint research team from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology and the California Institute of Technology has developed a groundbreaking photocatalyst that transforms carbon dioxide into methane using sunlight. The innovative technology, published in Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, combines two unique cocatalysts – two-dimensional molybdenum diselenide (MoSe₂) and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles – onto a titanium dioxide (TiO₂) surface.

The researchers engineered precise heterojunction interfaces between TiO₂ and MoSe₂, overcoming the instability of the latter's layered structure and enabling continuous electron transfer. Platinum nanoparticles within the system rapidly captured photogenerated electrons, speeding up the reduction process. When tested in a solar-concentrating reactor, the photocatalyst achieved a remarkable methane yield of 17.81 μmol/g, with a threefold increase compared to standard illumination and a 65-fold improvement over conventional TiO₂ photocatalysts.

This advancement stabilizes the highly active yet unstable metallic 1T-MoSe₂ phase through interface engineering, while also unraveling the mechanisms behind multi-electron reduction reactions. The innovative dual-cocatalyst system, which leverages the synergistic effects of photon flux from light concentration and efficient charge transfer across catalyst interfaces, promises significant advancements in carbon recycling and utilization, converting CO₂ into environmentally friendly fuels and chemical feedstocks using solar energy.