Investigating Mixed Metal Oxide Semiconducting Materials for CO2 Conversion: Application to Renewable Energy Sources

摘要

Climate change caused by increased atmospheric carbon dioxiden(CO2) concentrations and the limited supplies of fossil fuel resources,nsuch as oil, have stimulated research in the utilization of CO2 as anpotential energy source.1 The transformation of CO2 to hydrocarbonsnusing only sunlight and a catalysts is an extremely attractive approachnto producing renewable energy that is compatible with our currentnenergy infrastructure, while possibly reducing overall atmosphericnCO2 emissions. Using metal oxide semiconducting materials asnphotocatalysts for the photocatalytic conversion could provide annefficient and cost-effective route to recycle CO2 into useful chemicalsnand fuels such as methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO) andnmethanol (CH3OH). 2–11 Therefore, the creation and identification ofneffective catalysts must be explored. Here, multiple mixed metalnsemiconductors were synthesized via spray and pipet deposition andnanalyzed for photoactivity using combinatorial methods.12–14nMaterials determined to be photoactive are characterized andnevaluated for possible conversion of carbon dioxide using gasnchromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry.