Tailoring the performance of a photocatalyst by design is challenge in the field of renewable synthetic fuels. Herein, polymorphic heterostructures comprised of two indium oxide based photocatalysts, with distinct structures yet continuously adjustable fractions of the same composition, enable optimization of the activity and selectivity of CO₂ hydrogenation to CO and CH₃OH. The strategy rests on the cubic (c-) to rhombohedral (rh-) indium oxide hydroxide In₂O_3−x(OH)_y phase transition, in which the fraction of the cubic phase that nucleates and grows within the rhombohedral phase is under precise structural and compositional control. Interfaces so-formed between cubic and rhombohedral polymorphs with distinct electronic band structures as well as separate locations of electron trapping oxygen vacancies and hole trapping hydroxyl defects in individual In₂O_3−x(OH)_y components, enable charge generation, separation and lifetimes of photogenerated electron–hole pairs to be finely tuned. This facilitates command over H₂ and CO₂ surface chemical reactions that are responsible for the activity and selectivity towards products CO and CH₃OH. The control over the performance metrics of a CO₂ hydrogenation photocatalyst provided by tuneable rh/c-In₂O_3−x(OH)_y polymorphic heterostructures, affords promising opportunities for the future development of renewable synthetic fuels.

中文翻译：

---

如何制备高效的气相多相CO2加氢光催化剂

通过设计调整光催化剂的性能是可再生合成燃料领域的挑战。在本文中，由两种基于氧化铟的光催化剂组成的多晶型异质结构，具有不同的结构但具有相同组成的连续可调的馏分，能够优化CO ₂加氢对CO和CH ₃ OH的活性和选择性。该策略基于立方（c-）到菱形（rh-）氧化铟In ₂ O _{3− x}（OH）_y相变，其中在菱面体相中成核并生长的立方相部分受到精确的结构和组成控制。立方和菱面体多晶型物之间形成的界面具有独特的电子能带结构以及单个In ₂ O _{3− x}（OH）_y组分中电子俘获氧空位和空穴俘获羟基缺陷的单独位置，可实现电荷的产生，分离和寿命光生电子-空穴对的微调。这有助于控制H ₂和CO ₂表面化学反应，这些反应负责对产物CO和CH ₃的活性和选择性。哦。通过可调节的rh / c-In ₂ O _{3− x}（OH）_y多晶型异质结构提供的对CO ₂氢化光催化剂性能指标的控制，为可再生合成燃料的未来发展提供了广阔的机遇。