Improving photoreduction of CO2 with water to CH4 in a novel concentrated solar reactor

COphotoreduction is an attractive process which allows the storage of solar energy and synthesis of solar fuels. Many different photocatalytic systems have been developed, while the alternative photo-reactors are still insufficiently investigated. In this work, photoreduction of COwith HO into CHwas investigated in a modified concentrating solar reactor, using TiOand Pt/TiOas the catalysts. The TiOand Pt/TiOsamples were extensively characterized by different techniques including powder X-ray diffraction（XRD）, Nadsorption/desorption and UV–vis absorption. The catalytic performance of the TiOand Pt/TiOsamples in the gas phase was evaluated under unconcentrated and concentrated Xe-lamp light and nature solar light with different concentrating ratios. Various parameters of the reaction system and the catalysts were investigated and optimized to maximize the catalytic performance of COreduction system. Compared with the normal light irradiation, the TiOand Pt/TiOsamples show higher photocatalytic activity（about 6–7 times） for reducing COinto CHunder concentrated Xe-lamp light and nature solar light. In the range of experimental light intensity, it is found that the concentration of the light makes it suitable for the catalytic reaction, and increases the utilization efficiency of the TiOand Pt/TiOsamples while does not decrease the quantum efficiency.