Tunable, light-assisted co-generation of CO and H2 from CO2 and H2O by Re(bipy-tbu)(CO)3Cl and p-Si in non-aqueous medium.

The light-assisted co-generation of carbon monoxide and hydrogen from carbon dioxide and water is reported. The combination of a homogeneous CO-evolving electrocatalyst and a heterogeneous H(2)-evolving photoelectrode surface provides for tunability of the H(2)/CO ratio. A total Faradaic efficiency of 102 ± 5% and a H(2)/CO ratio of 2:1 were achieved at a low homogeneous catalyst concentration (0.5 mM) in acetonitrile/water mixtures. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012