(Invited) Single Atom Catalysts in Functionalized Carbon Nitride for Efficient Solar CO2 Reduction

Abstract

Single atom catalysts (SACs) have demonstrated unique properties in a variety of chemical transformations. Using graphitic carbon nitride (C3N4) as a photoactive support, we have prepared different cobalt SACs for use in solar CO2 reduction. Functionalization of C3N4 was carried out to produce well-defined N4 binding sites for cobalt ions. Spectroscopic techniques and computational tools were employed to confirm the structures of the SACs. In these photosynthetic assemblies, C3N4 absorbs visible light and, in the presence of electron donor, transfers electrons to the cobalt sites for CO2-reduction catalysis.