Selective photocatalytic carbon dioxide conversion with Pt@Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles

Pt@Ag-TiO2 nanocomposites were prepared and tested for photocatalytic CO2 conversion in the presence of H2O. The characterizations showed that Pt@Ag core@shell structures were formed. The photocatalytic activity of Pt@Ag-x-TiO2 catalysts with different Ag content showed that the deposition of Ag shell could increase the photocatalytic CO2 reduction efficiency and selectivity by suppressing H-2 generation. Pt@Ag-1.0-TiO2 with an Ag content of 1.95 wt.%s showed a maximum CH4 formation rate of 160.3 mu mol.g(-)(1).h(-1), together with a CO2 reduction selectivity of 87.90%. PL spectra and photocurrent measurements indicated that Pt@Ag-1.0-TiO2 had the highest photogenerated electron-hole separation efficiency among all the prepared photocatalysts.