Development of Copper-Based Artificial Photosynthesis Catalyst... Efficiency Increased 10 Times

Schematic diagram of the reduced titanium dioxide-copper oxide (RT-Cu2O) photocatalytic reaction developed by the research team

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] A technology has been developed to enhance the efficiency of artificial photosynthesis by utilizing copper, which is cheaper compared to other raw materials. This technology uses a copper oxide catalyst as an auxiliary catalyst in a photocatalyst that converts carbon dioxide into methane through ultraviolet light. It can significantly improve the efficiency of existing photocatalysts, drawing attention as a potential technology to address climate change.

Professor Su-il Insoo of the Department of Energy Engineering at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology announced on the 19th that he developed a titanium dioxide-copper oxide photocatalyst, and the related research paper was published in the international journal Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

The research team developed a photocatalyst that utilizes titanium dioxide as the main catalyst, which has excellent absorption of not only ultraviolet but also visible light, and copper oxide as the auxiliary catalyst.

The photocatalyst, developed by mimicking the photosynthesis process of plants, was designed with a heterostructure of copper oxide co-catalyst and reduced titanium dioxide main catalyst. The copper oxide used as the co-catalyst can transfer more electrons in the carbon dioxide reduction reaction, thereby further increasing the energy conversion rate. Compared to conventional titanium dioxide photocatalysts, it also has the advantage of absorbing more sunlight by absorbing light in the visible spectrum as well as ultraviolet light.

Through experiments under diluted carbon dioxide conditions, the research team confirmed that their copper oxide-titanium dioxide catalyst produced ten times more methane than the conventional reduced titanium dioxide catalyst. Additionally, analysis using gas chromatography, a device for measuring the content of specific gaseous compounds, showed excellent stability even after 42 hours of long-term operation.

Professor Insoo stated, "This research is significant in that it secured high stability at a low cost by using a co-catalyst made of copper metal, which is abundant on Earth," and added, "We will continue follow-up research to respond to climate change, which threatens human survival."

Graph of 42-hour long-term operation test data for reduced titanium dioxide-copper oxide (RT-Cu2O) photocatalyst

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