Photo-Induced Enhancement of Reverse Water Gas Shift over Mo-Modified Cerium Oxide

Abstract

Reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction, converting CO₂ into CO, is a promising approach for sustainable carbon utilization. However, high energy demand poses significant barriers to its practical application. Here, we report the development of platinum-loaded metal-modified cerium oxide catalysts (Pt/M_xCe_1−xO_y), designed to enhance RWGS reaction efficiency through photocatalytic and photothermal catalytic approaches, aiming at solar light utilization. Mo-modified catalysts exhibited a high CO formation rate of 14.2 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 473 K in the dark and 25.7 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under visible and near-infrared light irradiation, which outperformed the catalytic activity of the pristine Pt/CeOy catalyst. Detailed characterization revealed that Mo doping improved CO₂ adsorption and dissociation capability. Moreover, under visible-NIR light irradiation, catalyst performance further improved due to thermal and non-thermal effects of light irradiation. These findings highlight a dual enhancement mechanism—light-induced thermal and non-thermal pathways—that significantly boosts catalytic efficiency. This study provides valuable insights for designing advanced light-responsive catalysts, offering a promising pathway toward efficient and sustainable CO₂ conversion technologies.