Abstract
The photoreduction of CO2 to formate (HCOO–) in sphalerite (ZnS) aqueous suspensions is systematically studied in the presence of Na2S hole scavenger. A series of cut-on filters at λcut-on ≥ 280, 295, 305, 320, and 400 nm are used to measure the reaction rate of formate production. The dependence of the measured reaction rates on λcut-on indicates that a wavelength of λ = 345 nm is associated with the actual bandgap of the semiconductor nanocrystallites suspended in water. The results from apparent quantum yield measurements during periodic illumination experiments suggest that (1) valence-band holes on the surface of ZnS disappear within deciseconds due to the oxidation of the scavenger while simultaneously pumping electrons to the conduction band, (2) excited electrons in the conduction band of ZnS are transferred to CO2 to produce the intermediate CO2•–, and (3) CO2•– abstracts a proton from water and undergoes further photoreduction on the surface of ZnS in an overall time scale for steps 2 + 3 of a few milliseconds. The separation of both process merges at ∼29 ms because it decreases exponentially with a drop in [Na2S] accompanied by a less negative surface potential. The behavior of the reaction rate at variable pH resembles the fraction of dissolved CO2, discarding the direct participation of bicarbonate and carbonate in the reaction. Combined chromatographic, mass spectrometry, and spectroscopic studies provide new insights to understand the role of surface chemistry on the photoreduction of CO2 on ZnS nanocrystals.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-12-2014
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp4126039
Funding Information
We thank the University of Kentucky for funding support.
Repository Citation
Zhou, Ruixin and Guzman, Marcelo I., "CO2 Reduction under Periodic Illumination of ZnS" (2014). Chemistry Faculty Publications. 23.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/chemistry_facpub/23
Supporting Information
Included in
Environmental Chemistry Commons, Materials Chemistry Commons, Physical Chemistry Commons
Notes/Citation Information
Published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, v. 118, issue 22, p. 11649-11656.
© 2014 American Chemical Society
This is an open access article published under an ACS AuthorChoice License, which permits copying and redistribution of the article or any adaptations for non-commercial purposes.