Catalysis plays a significant role in the production of many fuels, materials, and chemicals. To achieve practical turnover rates for heterogeneous catalytic reactions, catalysts are heated. While heat is a necessary input, it has associated downsides: It involves high energy input, shortens catalyst lifetimes, and requires product selectivity to minimize unfavorable side reactions.
▲ Duke Univ. researchers have engineered rhodium nanoparticles (blue cubes) that can harness the energy in ultraviolet light and use it to catalyze the conversion of carbon dioxide to methane (red and blue molecules). Image courtesy of Chad Scales.
Photocatalysts — catalysts activated by light instead of heat — are promising alternatives and could be used to conduct reactions at room temperature, eliminating the large energy input and potential catalyst degradation associated with conventional heat driven catalysis. In spite of extensive research, however, no photocatalyst has met the requirements of an ideal catalyst. That...
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