photocatalytic activity

photocatalytic reduction

synergistic effect

light absorption

methylene blue

Joule

Summary   This manuscript reports the photothermal activity for CO2 methanation of RuO2 nanoparticles supported on strontium titanate (STO) operating at 150°C under simulated sunlight irradiation. The RuO2/STO sample having the optimal performance exhibits under ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) irradiation with a power of 108 mW/cm2 at 150°C a CH4 production rate of 14.6 mmol CH4 h−1 g−1. The photoresponse of the material is mainly due to UV photons, although RuO2/STO still retains about 50% efficiency under visible light irradiation (>400 nm). Mechanistic studies are compatible with a photothermal process with minor contribution of photocatalytic electron-hole pair charge separation. The photocatalyst is efficient enough to also operate under continuous flow conditions, achieving with a contact time of 3 s at 150°C under about 1 sun irradiation a steady-state CH4 production rate of 30 μmol h−1 for an 8-h-long experiment. This value ranks the material among the most efficient methanation photocatalysts.

Titanium-Perovskite-Supported RuO2 Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic CO2 Methanation