CO2 SEQUESTRATION AND RECYCLE BY PHOTOCATALYSIS WITH VISIBLE LIGHT

Visible light-photocatalysis could provide a cost-effective route to recycle CO{sub 2} to useful chemicals or fuels. Development of an effective catalyst for the photocatalytic synthesis requires (i) the knowledge of the surface band gap and its relation to the surface structure, (ii) the reactivity of adsorbates and their reaction pathways, and (iii) the ability to manipulate the actives site for adsorption, surface reaction, and electron transfer. The objective of this research is to study the photo-catalytic activity of TiO{sub 2}-base catalyst. A series of TiO{sub 2}-supported metal catalysts were prepared for determining the activity and selectivity for the synthesis of methane and methanol. 0.5 wt% Cu/SrTiO{sub 3} was found to be the most active and selective catalyst for methanol synthesis. The activity of the catalyst decreased in the order: Ti silsesquioxane > Cu/SrTiO{sub 3} > Pt/TiO{sub 2} > Cu/TiO{sub 2} > TiO{sub 2} > Rh/TiO{sub 2}. To further increase the number of site for the reaction, we propose to prepare monolayer and multiplayer TiOx on high surface area mesoporous oxides. These catalysts will be used for in situ IR study in the Phase II research project to determine the reactivity of adsorbates. Identification of active adsorbates and sites will allow incorporation of acid/basic sites to alter the nature of CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}O adsorbates and with Pt/Cu sites to direct reaction pathways of surface intermediates, enhancing the overall activity and selectivity for methanol and hydrocarbon synthesis. The overall goal of this research is to provide a greater predictive capability for the design of visible light-photosynthesis catalysts by a deeper understanding of the reaction kinetics and mechanism as well as by better control of the coordination/chemical environment of active sites