Artificial Photosynthesis - Use of a Ferroelectric Photocatalyst

摘要

The solid-gas phase photoassisted reduction of carbon dioxide (artificial photosynthesis) was performed using ferroelectric lithium niobate and titanium dioxide as photocatalysts. Illumination with a high pressure mercury lamp and visible sunlight showed lithium niobate achieved unexpectedly high conversion of CO_2 to products despite the low levels of band gap light available and outperformed titanium dioxide under the conditions used. The high reaction efficiency of lithium niobate is explained due to its strong remnant polarization (70 μC/cm~2) thought to allow longer lifetime of photo induced carriers as well as an alternative reaction pathway.