Charge‐Directed Photothermal Methane Dry Reforming Enabled by Interfacial TiO <i> <sub>x</sub> </i> Nanodomains
ABSTRACT Photothermal dry reforming of methane (DRM) enables solar‐driven upgrading of CH 4 and CO 2 , yet its efficiency and durability are hindered by carbon deposition and poorly defined photochemical contributions. Here, we demonstrate a charge‐directed photothermal DRM catalyst composed of Rh nanoparticles supported on TiO x ‐functionalized TiC, where interfacial TiO x domains play a critical role by coupling directional photocarrier flow with adaptive oxygen chemistry. Upon illumination, metallic TiC generates charge carriers that transfer electrons to Rh sites while steering holes to TiO x surface oxygens. This charge‐directed interfacial chemistry selectively lowers the barrier for *OCH 3 formation, the potential‐determining step, thus suppressing *CH 3 over‐dehydrogenation and mitigating carbon formation. Concurrently, CO 2 activation at oxygen vacancies within TiO x regions restocks surface oxygens, closing a regenerative photothermal Mars–van Krevelen cycle. As a result, the catalyst delivers high syngas production rates (CO: 17.5 mol g Rh −1 h −1 , H 2 : 10.5 mol g Rh −1 h −1 ), attains a light‐to‐chemical energy efficiency of 29%, and operates stably for over 100 h without coking. This work highlights the mechanistic importance of amorphous TiO x interface in charge‐directed photothermal DRM and provides design insights for developing coking‐resistant reforming catalysts.
Authors
- Jiabin Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4790-5873)
- Huabin Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1601-2471)
- Chengyang Feng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7437-1088)
- Yidong Hou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6983-3700)
- Bifang Li
- Li Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8142-403X)
- Sibo Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2656-9169)
- Kunlong Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2872-5850)
- Xiahui Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1905-1823)
- Bo Su
Institutions
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (SA)
- Fuzhou University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Published
- 2026-06-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.4126002
- Primary Topic
- Catalysts for Methane Reforming
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00