Shape-controlled TiO2 materials decorated with metal nanoparticles: structure-performance relationships and mechanistic investigations towards the CO2 hydrogenation reaction

Abstract

Recent concerns regarding fossil fuel shortage, CO2 emissions, and global warming have placed a great demand for environmentally friendly technologies. In this context, there has been an increasing demand for curbing CO2 emissions and developing efficient CO2 capture and utilization systems. The CO2 hydrogenation represents an interesting approach to address these challenges. Although CO2 hydrogenation has been successfully achieved through several catalytic routes, the understanding of the reaction mechanisms as well as the optimization of activities and selectivities remain challenging. By taking advantage of our group's expertise in controlled synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials with The Tsang Group's knowledge in the controlled synthesis of oxides (TiO2), carbon dioxide's hydrogenation, and advanced material characterization either by ex-situ and in-situ/operando conditions, this proposal aims at improving our understanding of the activity and selectivity of catalysts composed of TiO2 decorated with Pd NPs for the hydrogenation of CO2. We will develop shape-controlled TiO2 materials, which will be employed as physical templates for the deposition of Pd NPs. We aim at investigating the effect of exposing different TiO2 surface facets over the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2. We will exploit mechanistic aspects of the reactions by advanced characterization techniques (ex and in situ) for further understanding activities and selectivities as a function of the chemical and physical parameters that define the catalysts. In the last step, we will investigate how the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 influence the observed performances. (AU)