Femto-microsecond electron transfer and intermediates in Al/Fe CO2 photoreduction systems through optical and X-ray spectroscopy†

Abstract

This study reveals the reaction pathways of 2 Al–Fe earth-abundant photocatalytic systems for CO₂ reduction through femto-nanosecond optical transient absorption and microsecond X-ray spectroscopies. Time-resolved experimental findings with time-dependent density functional theory illustrate the formation of an elusive Fe^I octahedral species with bound aqua ligands and lifetimes of 23–29 μs.