Boosted photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into solar fuel through photo-magnetic coupling

Abstract. Relatively low conversion efficiency is the main limitation for realizing the conversion from CO2 photoreduction to high-value-added chemicals. Herein, we demonstrate that coupling alternating magnetic field (AMF) can significantly enhance the solar-catalyzed CO2 conversion process. Utilizing NiO  /  TiO2 as the experimental photocatalyst, CO2 could be reduced into CH4 with the participation of water vapor. The catalytic system presents a high activity that is improved by ∼200  %   toward CH4 production through integrating with AMF. The applied AMF, on one hand, can increase the density of carries by restraining the combination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. On the other hand, the applied AMF enhances the oxidizability of the catalysts with simulated solar irradiation to boost the oxidation of H2O to O2. Further, our examination illuminates that the Ni species serve as the adsorption/mobilization sites of CO2 to boost the conversion of CO2 to CH4 by photogenerated e  −   and the H  +   produced by H2O. This strategy paves a new path for boosting photocatalytic CO2 conversion by integrating AMF into the reaction.