Silver Nanoparticles Embedded within a Silicon Photocathode for Photoelectrochemical Fixation of CO2 to Synthesize Intermediates of Profen Drugs

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) fixation of carbon dioxide (CO2) into intermediates of Profen drugs, a kind of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, is a useful and important technology for the utilization of CO2. In this work, we successfully designed and prepared a silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-embedded silicon photocathode for PEC-fixating CO2 to synthesize intermediates of Profen drugs with high efficiency and stability. AgNPs endow the photocathode with extremely high catalytic activity, the Schottky junction between Ag and Si promotes the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers, the AgNPsembedded structure greatly improves the stability of the photocathode, and the nanohole structure improves light absorption.