Mg-doped SrTiO₃ photocatalyst with Ag-Co cocatalyst for enhanced selective conversion of CO₂ to CO using H₂O as the electron donor

Abstract

Photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ by H₂O is a promising method for solving energy and environmental problems. In this context, efficient photocatalysts that facilitate the selective conversion of CO₂ to the value-added chemical CO are essential. In this study, for the first time in the literature, we used an Mg-doped SrTiO₃ photocatalyst (Mg–SrTiO₃) for the photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ to CO using H₂O as the electron donor under monochromatic UV-light irradiation at 365 nm. Compared to pristine SrTiO₃, Mg–SrTiO₃, which was prepared via a flux method, exhibited dramatically enhanced conversion of CO₂ to CO in the presence of an Ag–Co cocatalyst. Moreover, the selectivity toward CO evolution was >99%, which indicates suppression of the unnecessary and competitive H₂ evolution. Scanning electron microscopy of Mg–SrTiO₃ revealed edge-shaved cubic particles, which were correlated to the anisotropic distribution of photogenerated electrons and holes and the consequent enhancement of photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the Mg-doping temperature and amount used to prepare Mg–SrTiO₃ influenced the substitution of Ti⁴⁺ sites by Mg²⁺ in the bulk of SrTiO₃, thereby affecting the CO evolution. The apparent quantum efficiency of optimal Mg–SrTiO₃ in the photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ was determined to be 0.05%.