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Download fileLow-Work Function Metals Boost Selective and Fast Scission of Methanol C–H Bonds
journal contribution
posted on 2022-05-13, 16:04 authored by Nengchao Luo, Wei Nie, Junju Mu, Shiyang Liu, Mingrun Li, Jian Zhang, Zhuyan Gao, Fengtao Fan, Feng WangPhotocatalytic production of chemicals
and fuels with H2 evolution has raised broad interest due
to the carbon emission-free
feature. In this context, selective and fast scission of methanol
C–H bonds for coproduction of H2 and ethylene glycol
(EG) over metal–semiconductor composites remains to be achieved.
Here, we demonstrate that indium nanoparticles (In NPs) with a low
work function (<4.3 eV) increase the selectivity and activity of
ZnIn2S4 for the scission of methanol C–H
bonds. By accepting electrons from In NPs, ZnIn2S4 with enriched electrons tends to activate the C–H bond instead
of the O–H bond. Besides, a relatively strong built-in field
is formed between In NPs and the support, which facilitates photogenerated
electron transfer to In NPs for H2 evolution. Consequently,
84% selectivity of EG is obtained, and the apparent quantum yields
(365 nm) of EG and H2 reach 15.6 and 27.0%, respectively.
This concept of methanol C–H bond scission boosted by low-work
function metal is also proved by immobilizing In, Cd, and Bi to ZnS,
resulting in up to 89% selectivity of EG.