Solar-driven CO2 to CO reduction utilizing H2O as an electron donor by earth-abundant Mn-bipyridine complex and Ni-modified Fe-oxyhydroxide catalysts activated in a single-compartment reactor

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical CO2 to CO reduction was demonstrated with 3.4% solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency using polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells connected with earth-abundant catalysts: a manganese complex polymer for CO2 reduction and iron oxyhydroxide modified with a nickel compound for water oxidation. The system operated around neutral pH in a single-compartment reactor.