Xiaoyuan Ye, Yuchen Dong, Ziying Zhang, et al. Syngas production by photoreforming of formic acid with 2D VxW1–xN1.5 solid solution as an effcient cocatalyst. p640-649
In the pursuit of eco-friendly energy solutions, leveraging green technologies to synthesize pivotal industrial raw materials such as carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂) is imperative for future progress. Formic acid (HCOOH, FA) emerges as a significant energy carrier, rich in CO (60 wt.%) and H₂ (4.4 wt.%). Photoreforming of formic acid, powered by solar energy, offers a promising low-carbon pathway for producing syngas—a critical mixture of CO and H₂. Incorporating cocatalysts into these photoreforming systems has been shown to significantly enhance activity by facilitating the transfer of photogenerated carriers. Yet, there remains considerable potential for further advancement in the design and optimization of these cocatalysts. Our latest development of a V-W bimetallic solid solution, VxW1–xN1.5, has demonstrated remarkable cocatalytic properties originating from metallic characteristics and a high work function, which promote rapid carrier transfer and minimize recombination. These attributes substantially improve its efficacy as a cocatalyst for syngas production via formic acid photoreforming. Integrating theoretical insights with experimental validation, this work presents a novel approach to the design of transition metal nitrides (TMNs) for photocatalytic applications in energy conversion.
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