Abstract
The photocatalytic and electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 has the potential to provide valuable products, such as chemicals or fuels of interest, at low cost while maintaining a circular carbon cycle. In this context, carbon dots possess optical and electrochemical properties that make them suitable candidates to participate in the reaction, either as a single component or forming part of more elaborate catalytic systems. In this review, we describe several strategies where the carbon dots participate, both with amorphous and graphitic structures, in the photocatalysis or electrochemical catalysis of CO2 to provide different carbon-containing products of interest. The role of the carbon dots is analyzed as a function of their redox and light absorption characteristics and their complementarity with other known catalytic systems. Moreover, detailed information about synthetic procedures is also reviewed.
Highlights
Anthropological CO2 emissions are the primary driver of global climate change, since their growth from mid-20th century has reached 36 billion tons per year [1]
We have surveyed the utilization of carbon dots for photocatalytic and electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to C1 and C≥2 products
Due to their unique optical and electrical properties, the Carbon dots (CDs) are able to photocatalyze the reduction of CO2 alone or in combination with other components as part of more elaborated catalytic systems
Summary
Anthropological CO2 emissions are the primary driver of global climate change, since their growth from mid-20th century has reached 36 billion tons per year [1]. The catalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) driven by light (photocatalysis) or electricity (electrocatalysis) powered by renewable sources are promising approaches to replicate nature’s process of CO2 conversion into chemical energy [3]. They are extremely attractive ways of using CO2 as a feedstock for the production of fuels or valueadded monocarbon (C1) and multicarbon (C≥2) chemicals, such as formic acid/formate (HCOOH/HCOO−), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), ethylene (C2H4), methanol (CH3OH), or ethanol (C2H5OH). CDs are surface-functionalized graphitic or amorphous carbon nanoparticles (size below 10 nm) with high chemical stability, excellent photo/electro properties, electron transfers/transport capacities and easy large-scale production [30,31] To date, they have been thoroughly characterized with several techniques, and great progress has been made on tuning their properties by changing the synthetic parameters. Both types of CDs may feature varying distributions of functional groups (i.e., hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl, amine, and pyridinic and pyrrolic N), and notable changes in sp3-carbon content depending on the specific synthetic conditions [35]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
