Photocatalytic CO2 Transformation to CH4 by Ag/Pd Bimetals Supported on N-Doped TiO2 Nanosheet.

To develop photocatalysts with desirable compositions and structures for improving the efficiency and selectivity of CO2 conversion to CH4 under mild conditions is of great importance. Here, we design an effective photocatalyst of bimetal (Ag/Pd) nanoalloys supported on nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanosheet for CO2 conversion. Such a novel photocatalyst combines multiple advantages of abundant Ti3+ ions, oxygen vacancies, and substitutional nitrogen that are favorable for catalyzing CO2 reduction. It was found that CO2 could be efficiently transformed to CH4 under mild conditions, i.e., in aqueous solution and at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The maximum production rate of CH4 can reach 79.0 μmol g-1 h-1. Moreover, the Ag/Pd bimetals supported on N-doped TiO2 nanosheet exhibit high selectivity to CH4. The as-synthesized photocatalyst can be well recycled for CO2 reduction.