Steering artificial photosynthesis via photoinduced conversion of monometallic to bimetallic sites in FeCo nitroprussides.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 40615385.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-61129-x and PMC identifier 12227608.
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Abstract
Artificial photosynthesis provides an efficient strategy for solar energy storage via water splitting and CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, but it remains a challenge in tuning artificial photosynthesis between these two competing reactions. Herein, we demonstrate photoinduced conversion of monometallic to bimetallic sites in a Fe-Co nitroprusside (FeCo-NP) to steer the reaction path from H<sub>2</sub> evolution to CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. Monometallic Co sites achieve efficient H<sub>2</sub> production with 28.5 mmol g<sup>-1</sup> activity and 85.4% selectivity. Photoinduced release of nitrosyl groups from Fe sites generates bimetallic Fe-Co sites, which suppress H<sub>2</sub> evolution and enhance CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, yielding 31.5 mmol g<sup>-1</sup> activity and 87.3% selectivity for C1 products. Mechanistic investigations reveal that monometallic Co sites catalyze H<sub>2</sub> evolution via H<sub>2</sub>O adsorption and O-H cleavage while bimetallic Fe-Co sites facilitate both H<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption and subsequent O and C hydrogenation for CO and HCOOH. This work uncovers a strategy to manipulate competing reaction pathways via photoinduced conversion of monometallic to bimetallic sites, which provides unique insights into addressing environmental issues and energy crises.