title: LiNbO3--a new material for artificial photosynthesis.
abstract: The solid-gas phase photo-assisted reduction of carbon dioxide (artificial photosynthesis) was performed using ferroelectric lithium niobate and titanium dioxide. Illumination with a high-pressure mercury lamp and visible sunlight showed that lithium niobate achieved unexpectedly high conversion of CO(2) to products despite the low levels of band-gap light available. The high reaction efficiency of lithium niobate is explained by its strong remnant polarization (70 μC/cm(2)), allowing a longer lifetime of photo-induced carriers as well as an alternative reaction pathway.
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Centre, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D005561:Formates / Q000378:metabolism; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D013472:Sunlight; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; D010087:Oxides; D009556:Niobium; C030544:formic acid; C091692:lithium niobate; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C009495:titanium dioxide; D005557:Formaldehyde; D014025:Titanium