Designing reliable and accurate isotope-tracer experiments for CO2 photoreduction

Shengyao Wang, Bo Jiang (), Joel Henzie, Feiyan Xu, Chengyuan Liu, Xianguang Meng, Sirong Zou, Hui Song, Yang Pan, Hexing Li, Jiaguo Yu (), Hao Chen () and Jinhua Ye ()
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Shengyao Wang: Huazhong Agricultural University
Bo Jiang: Shanghai Normal University
Joel Henzie: National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Feiyan Xu: China University of Geosciences
Chengyuan Liu: University of Science and Technology of China
Xianguang Meng: National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Sirong Zou: Huazhong Agricultural University
Hui Song: National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Yang Pan: University of Science and Technology of China
Hexing Li: Shanghai Normal University
Jiaguo Yu: China University of Geosciences
Hao Chen: Huazhong Agricultural University
Jinhua Ye: National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The photoreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) into renewable synthetic fuels is an attractive approach for generating alternative energy feedstocks that may compete with and eventually displace fossil fuels. However, it is challenging to accurately trace the products of CO2 photoreduction on account of the poor conversion efficiency of these reactions and the imperceptible introduced carbon contamination. Isotope-tracing experiments have been used to solve this problem, but they frequently yield false-positive results because of improper experimental execution and, in some cases, insufficient rigor. Thus, it is imperative that accurate and effective strategies for evaluating various potential products of CO2 photoreduction are developed for the field. Herein, we experimentally demonstrate that the contemporary approach toward isotope-tracing experiments in CO2 photoreduction is not necessarily rigorous. Several examples of where pitfalls and misunderstandings arise, consequently making isotope product traceability difficult, are demonstrated. Further, we develop and describe standard guidelines for isotope-tracing experiments in CO2 photoreduction reactions and then verify the procedure using some reported photoreduction systems.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38052-0

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