Controllable CO2 Reduction or Hydrocarbon Oxidation Driven by Entire Solar via Silver Quantum Dots Direct Photocatalysis

Abstract The current solar‐chemical‐industry based on semiconductor photocatalyst is impractical. Metal catalysts are extensively employed in thermal‐ and electro‐catalysis industries, but unsuitable for direct‐driven photocatalysis. Herein, silver quantum dots (Ag‐QDs) are synthesized on support via an in situ photoreduction method, and in situ photocatalysis temperature programmed dynamics chemisorption desorption analyses are designed to demonstrate that Ag‐QDs should be the actual photocatalytic sites. The surface plasmon resonance of Ag‐QDs could harvests entire visible solar, and the plasmon‐driven charge‐transfer exhibits opposite directions at the interface when supports are different. Consequently, Ag‐QDs could be alternatively regulated as oxidation or reduction active centers. Furthermore, Ag‐QDs excite electron tunneling transfer with adsorbate, which does not generate high‐energy free‐radical intermediates. As a result, the efficiencies of hydrocarbon photooxidation and CO 2 photoreduction are improved in several orders of magnitude. Evidently, the Ag‐QDs direct photocatalytic technology greatly promotes solar‐chemical‐industry applications.