Synergetic effect of surface frustrated Lewis pair and localized surface plasmon resonance on tuning the catalyst from inert to highly reactive for photocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation†

Aluminum oxides (Al₂O₃, AlOOH) have been extensively studied as adsorbents, porous materials, and catalyst supports. However, they rarely exhibit photocatalytic applications due to the lack of active centers and light absorption properties. In this work, we present a novel approach in which highly dispersed copper (Cu) nanoparticles are loaded onto defect-laden AlO(OH)_x nanocrystals, serving as an effective photocatalyst for the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction with a remarkable near-unity (∼99%) selectivity. The surface frustrated Lewis pair (SFLP) on AlO(OH)_x provides catalytic sites to activate H₂ and CO₂ molecules. Meanwhile, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Cu nanoparticles can generate sufficient hot electrons to facilitate H₂ dissociation and thereby the reduction of CO₂. The synergetic effect of SFLP and LSPR tunes the catalyst from inert to highly reactive by tailoring the surface structure and electronic properties, providing a new perspective for the potential application of traditional industrial catalysts and/or supports.