Plasmonic Cu Nanoparticles for the Low-temperature Photo-driven Water-gas Shift Reaction

The activation of water molecules in thermal catalysis typically requires high temperatures, representing an obstacle to catalyst development for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction (WGSR). Plasmonic photocatalysis allows activation of water at low temperatures through the generation of light-induced hot electrons. Herein, we report a layered double hydroxide-derived copper catalyst (LD-Cu) with outstanding performance for the low-temperature photo-driven WGSR. LD-Cu offered a lower activation energy for WGSR to H₂ under UV/Vis irradiation (1.4 W cm⁻²) compared to under dark conditions. Detailed experimental studies revealed that highly dispersed Cu nanoparticles created an abundance of hot electrons during light absorption, which promoted *H₂O dissociation and *H combination via a carboxyl pathway, leading to the efficient production of H₂. Results demonstrate the benefits of exploiting plasmonic phenomena in the development of photo-driven low-temperature WGSR catalysts.