Organic Polymer Dots Photocatalyze CO₂ Reduction in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Developing low‐cost and efficient photocatalysts to convert CO2 into valuable fuels is desirable to realize a carbon‐neutral society. In this work, we report that polymer dots (Pdots) of poly[(9,9′‐dioctylfluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl)‐co‐(1,4‐benzo‐thiadiazole)] (PFBT) without adding any extra co‐catalyst can photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into CO in aqueous solution, rendering a CO production rate of 57 μmol g‐1 h‐1 with a detectable selectivity of up to 100%. 5 cycles of CO2 re‐purging experiments show no distinct decline in CO amount and reaction rate, indicating the promising photocatalytic stability of PFBT Pdots in photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction. Mechanistic study reveals that photo‐excited PFBT Pdots are reduced by TEOA first, then the reduced PFBT Pdots can bind CO2 and reduce it into CO via their intrinsic active sites. This work highlights the application of organic Pdots for CO2 reduction in the aqueous solution, which therefore provides a strategy to develop highly efficient and environmentally friendly nanoparticular photocatalysts for CO2 reduction.