W/WO3/PDA@CuFe2O4 as successful photocatalyst of CO2 conversion in seawater to fuel by using sunlight

The increasing emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) due to industrialization and deforestation has accelerated global climate change, requiring the development of new technologies for CO2 capture and utilization. This study proposes the use of seawater as a CO2 source for the synthesis of high-value products, such as hydrogen, ethanol, and acetone, using new photoelectrocatalysts based on W/WO3/PDA@CuFe2O4. The method employed was photoelectrocatalysis in a two-compartment reactor separated by a Nafion 117 membrane. The addition of CuFe2O4 to the system reduced the band gap of the WO3 electrodes (3.4 eV) to 3.0 eV in the W/WO3/PDA@CuFe2O4 material, increasing the process efficiency. At a potential of −1.0 V, 0.313 µmol L−1 of hydrogen was obtained, and at −0.4 V, 265 µmol L−1 of ethanol and 404 µmol L−1 of acetone were formed. This research makes a significant contribution to the advancement of studies in marine waters, presenting a promising technology for CO2 capture with potential real-world application, utilizing materials synthesized in an eco-friendly manner, which may benefit future sustainable approaches to mitigating the effects of climate change.