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Dynamic Dual-Site Relay Catalysis Enables Selective Solar-Driven CO2 Reduction Toward Ethanol

delete2026-08-11
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PRE
AI
S
Shuaiqi Gong *
C
Chuxiong Zhou
X
Xiaoyang He
J
Jianying Wang
P
Penghui Shi
Y
Yulin Min
Z
Zuofeng Chen *
H
Hexing Li *
DOI:10.1002/anie.4735480delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to ethanol (C2H5OH) offers a sustainable carbon recycling route but is limited by inefficient C−C coupling under visible light irradiation. Here, we report a defect-engineered WO3-x/InSAs (SAs, single atoms) photocatalyst with a dynamic dual-site relay mechanism, where electron-rich W−VO (VO, oxygen-vacancy) and electron-deficient In single atom sites cooperatively drive selective ethanol synthesis. The W−VO site acts as a persistent *CO supply hub for CO2-to-*CO conversion, while In site functions as an ethanol-selective coupling center for targeted *CO−*CO coupling. This relay enables exceptional ethanol production and high selectivity (97.43% electrons selectivity and 86.35% yield-based selectivity). Notably, the photocatalyst maintains efficient CO2-to-ethanol conversion efficiency under natural sunlight illumination in scaled-up experiments using a reactor equipped with a 20 × 20 cm2 plate coated with WO3-x/InSAs. Combined in situ spectroscopy and DFT calculations reveal that W−VO orchestrates CO2-to-*CO feeding and relays electrons to InSAs, reducing the C−C coupling barrier via asymmetric electron distribution. Electron-trapping at oxyphilic In stabilizes *CO via O-lone-pair donation; subsequent W d-orbital hybridization anchors *OCCO, dictating ethanol selectivity. Our work provides a design strategy for efficient photogenerated carrier utilization in CO2-to-ethanol conversion, with implications for scalable solar fuel synthesis.
Keywords:
C−C coupling
CO2 conversion to ethanol
photocatalytic CO2 reduction
relay catalysis
single atoms

Journal

Angewandte Chemie-International Edition cover
Angewandte Chemie-International Edition
IF:
16.9
Papers:
5.6W
Citations:
53.0W

Organization

S
shanghai university of electric power
Scholars:
766
Papers: 263
Citations: 0
T
tongji university
Scholars:
7.5W
Papers: 5.8W
Citations: 98
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