Gas phase carbon dioxide photoreduction to produce value-added chemicals using graphene oxide-based catalysts

Abstract In this study, we investigated the performance of graphene oxide (GO)-based catalysts, including commercially available GO, GO synthesized via the All Kemie Sus method, and GO/TiO 2 composites, for CO 2 reduction under both UV and visible light irradiation. The catalysts were systematically characterized using XRD, SEM, FTIR, EDS, UV, and XPS techniques to elucidate their structural and chemical properties. Our findings reveal the remarkable versatility of these materials, demonstrating their ability to produce a diverse array of value-added products, including methane, ethane, formaldehyde, and methanol. Commercial GO achieved the highest ethane yield of 2.25 × 10 2 µmol and an initial reaction rate of 2.7 × 10 4 <m:math xmlns:m="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <m:mrow> <m:mfrac> <m:mrow> <m:mi>μ</m:mi> <m:mi>m</m:mi> <m:mi>o</m:mi> <m:mi>l</m:mi> </m:mrow> <m:mrow> <m:msub> <m:mi>g</m:mi> <m:mrow> <m:mi>c</m:mi> <m:mi>a</m:mi> <m:mi>t</m:mi> </m:mrow> </m:msub> <m:mi>h</m:mi> </m:mrow> </m:mfrac> </m:mrow> </m:math> $\frac{\mu mol}{{g}_{cat}h}$ followed by GO/TiO 2 with a yield of 4.16 µmol an initial reaction rate of 4.99 × 10 2 <m:math xmlns:m="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <m:mrow> <m:mfrac> <m:mrow> <m:mi>μ</m:mi> <m:mi>m</m:mi> <m:mi>o</m:mi> <m:mi>l</m:mi> </m:mrow> <m:mrow> <m:msub> <m:mi>g</m:mi> <m:mrow> <m:mi>c</m:mi> <m:mi>a</m:mi> <m:mi>t</m:mi> </m:mrow> </m:msub> <m:mi>h</m:mi> </m:mrow> </m:mfrac> </m:mrow> </m:math> $\frac{\mu mol}{{g}_{cat}h}$ . Notably, the GO/TiO 2 composite was only tested due to its promising potential for enhancing charge separation and catalytic efficiency, however, further studies are recommended. Moreover, the greener synthesis methods employed for GO All Kemie Sus highlight the importance of sustainable approaches in catalyst development. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the performance and potential applications of GO-based catalysts for CO 2 photocatalytic reduction, laying the foundation for further advancements in this research area towards sustainable energy technologies and environmental conservation.