I explore photocatalytic activity mechanism of TiO2 NPs immobilized in polyacrylamide hydrogel polymer network. The main goal of the project is creating prototypes of the "artificial leaf".
Thus the methods and equipment for studying photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide ("artificial photosynthesis") are interest in detail.
Thanks.
Hello
I would try to summarise key points associated with photocatalytic reduction process and lab set up for doing experiments.
First of all photcatalytic reduction of CO2 isn't a simple reaction. Its quite complex where water splitting and CO2 reduction occurs at same point of time, thus producing protons which are utilised to reduce the CO2 molecule to hydrocarbon product in presence of electrons.
The photoreduction process is broadly divided in two systems: Gas Phase and Liquid Phase.
Gas Phase: Here you need to design a full system comprising of CO2 gas source, water source and a photoreactor for the photoreduction process to take place.
Liquid Phase: Usually the photocatalyst is dispersed in DI water in presence of alkaline medium for better dissolution of CO2 in water and stirred slowly.
In both cases above two things are further important:
Gas chromatography unit: It detects the hydrocarbon products generated during photocatalysis. GC is of two types: Online (Auto injection GC) and Offline (Manual Injection GC). Both are fine but online GC is more error free as human intervention is less.
Light source: Now it depends how one wants to analyse the photocatalyst: UV source, only Visible region or 1 sun conditions.
So in short, one has to design the whole reaction setup in lab and test the photocatalyst.
PS: Also the products obtained are different in gas phase reaction and liquid reaction. Usually in gas phase CO, CH4, C2H6 etc hydrocarbon products are detected whereas in liquid methanol, formic acid or sometimes ethanol is detected. So analysis of the products should be done very carefully.
GC-MS: Now Gas chromatography- Mass Spectroscopy is also very important tool to confirm the source of photoreduction products. Isotopic analysis are performed using GC-MS to confirm the CO2 as the source for photocatalytic reduction.
Hope these tips might help you, although there can be many more details which haa to be taken care of and for that you should study some recently published articles.
Regards.
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