Doping Iron\nin CsPbBr₃ Perovskite Nanocrystals\nfor Efficient and Product Selective CO₂ Reduction

Abstract

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals have recently emerged\nas an\nefficient optical material for light harvesting. While these have\nbeen extensively studied for obtaining bright emissions, their use\nas catalysts for enhancing the rate of chemical reactions has been\nexplored little. Considering their importance in catalysis, herein,\nFe­(II)-doped CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanocrystals have been\nexplored for photocatalytic reduction of CO₂. In comparison\nto undoped CsPbBr₃, doped nanocrystals showed enhanced\ncatalytic activity and also predominantly led to evolution of CH₄ instead of CO. The observation of a reverse trend of predominated\nCH₄ evolution in doped nanocrystals rather than CO observed\nfor undoped nanocrystals was correlated to the adsorption/desorption\nenergy of respective products established theoretically earlier. This\nselective evolution of major products on doping remained unique and\nalso a step forward for understanding more regarding light to chemical\nenergy conversions using perovskite nanocrystals.