Photo-thermal coupling catalysis boosts the degradation of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane over γ-Al2O3/C3N4 catalyst

Abstract

The widespread use of refrigerants results in ozone depletion and greenhouse gas emissions. As new refrigerants replace older ones, the proper disposal of discarded refrigerants becomes crucial for the sustainability of human society. This work proposes photo-thermal coupling catalysis for the degradation of 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R134a). This method enhances light absorption efficiency and transforms absorbed energy into thermal energy, thereby improving the degradation efficiency of R134a. To enhance stability and efficiency, a composite of γ-Al2O3@C3N4 was synthesized as a photo-thermal catalyst. Experimental findings demonstrate that photo-thermal coupling catalysis achieves an R134a degradation efficiency of 52.9 % within 40 minutes, which is 4.90 and 1.79 times higher than those of photocatalysis and thermocatalysis, respectively. Additionally, photo-thermal coupling catalysis effectively mitigates the instability and deactivation seen in traditional thermal catalysis processes. These results suggest that the proposed photo-thermal coupling catalysis is an effective approach for the efficient and low-energy degradation of R134a, offering a promising avenue for refrigerant disposal.