Tunable Selectivity in CO2 Photo-Thermal Reduction by Perovskite-Supported Pd Nanoparticles

Photo-thermal catalysis has recently emerged as a promising alternative to overcome the limitations of traditional photocatalysis. Despite its potential, most of the photo-thermal systems still lack adequate selectivity patterns and appropriate analysis of the underlying reaction pathways, thus hampering a wide implementation. Herein, a novel photocatalyst based on Pd nanoparticles (NPs) supported on barium titanate (BTO) was prepared for the selective photo-thermal reduction of CO2 and displayed catalytic rates of up to 8.2 mol(co)g(pd)(-1) h(-1). The photocatalyst allowed for a tailored selectivity towards CO or CH4 as a function of the metal loading or the light intensity. Mechanistic studies indicated that both thermal and non-thermal contributions of light played a role in the overall reaction pathway, each of them being dominant upon changing reaction conditions.