Solar-driven conversion of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water (H 2 O) into carbon-based fuels and high-value-added chemicals represents a promising sustainable strategy for achieving recycling of carbon resources. Achieving efficient photocatalytic CO 2 reduction using H 2 O as a hydrogen source requires the synergisticoptimization of both charge and proton transfer between CO 2 reduction and H 2 O oxidationhalf-reactions.The integration of complementary metal single‐atom andclusters on photocatalystscan establish multiple catalyticcenters, potentially synergizing to improve both the half-reactions.
Recently, a research team led by Prof. Benxia Li (Zhejiang Sci-Tech University) designed a Pd 1+c /3DOM-In 2 O 3 catalyst by engineering synergistic Pd 1 and Pd c sites in 3DOM-In 2 O 3 framework. The innovative integration of synergistic Pd 1 ‐Pd c sites with unique LSPR property and the 3DOM structures enableshighly efficient conversion of CO 2 and H 2 O into CO.The results were published in Chinese Journal of Catalysis (DOI: 10.1016/S1872‐2067(25)64919‐9 ).
The Pd 1+c /3DOM-In 2 O 3 catalyst was synthesized through template‐assisted in‐situ pyrolysis followed by thermal treatment in a mixed H 2 /Ar atmosphere. The co-existence of Pd single atoms and clusters not only offers synergistic active sites to simultaneously promote the reaction of CO 2 and H 2 O, but also significantly improves the separation and transfer efficiencies of photogenerated electrons and holes. Under simulated sunlight irradiation, the surface temperature of the catalyst rapidly rises to approximately 230 °C due to the photothermal effect of Pd clusters. This generated thermal energy further enhances the photocatalytic conversion of CO 2 and H 2 O, achieving a CO production rate of 192.52 μmol g –1 h –1 with a selectivity of 88.51%.
Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Pd clusters substantially reduce the thermodynamic energy barrier of H 2 O dissociation, thereby accelerating proton‐coupled electron transfer for CO 2 reduction. Pd single atoms serve as the optimal active sites for the selective conversion of CO 2 into CO, while the presence of Pd clusters enhances the adsorption and activation of CO 2 at these Pd single‐atom sites. The synergistic interaction between Pd single atoms and clusters, along with the integration of photocatalysis and photothermal effect, significantly improves the CO 2 and H 2 O conversion to CO.
About the journal
Chinese Journal of Catalysis is co-sponsored by Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Chemical Society, and it is currently published by Elsevier group. This monthly journal publishes in English timely contributions of original and rigorously reviewed manuscripts covering all areas of catalysis. The journal publishes Reviews, Accounts, Communications, Articles, Highlights, Perspectives, and Viewpoints of highly scientific values that help understanding and defining of new concepts in both fundamental issues and practical applications of catalysis. Chinese Journal of Catalysis ranks among the top six journals in Applied Chemistry with a current SCI impact factor of 17.7.
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Chinese Journal of Catalysis
Synergistic Pd species anchored in ordered macroporous In2O3 boosting solar-driven CO2 and H2O conversion
11-Feb-2026