Abstract:
Large number of low-concentration gas (C_\rmC\rmH_\rm4 < 30%) is discharged directly due to the lack of reasonable and effective utilization pathways. Research and development of high-value conversion and utilization methods and technologies for low-concentration gas is of great significance to ensure the safe production in coal seams and mitigate the greenhouse effect, and it is also an indispensable part of realizing China’s “double carbon” strategic goal. The production of liquid fuel methanol from low-concentration gas as a carbon source is considered to be one of the ideal utilization pathways. Photocatalytic technology driven by clean solar energy can activate and convert methane at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, providing a novel approach for low-carbon utilization of low-concentration gas. AgVO
3 was firstly prepared by hydrothermal method. Ag
2S/AgVO
3 heterojunction was constructed by in-situ decoration of Ag
2S on the surface of AgVO
3 via ion exchange strategy using thioacetamide as a sulfur source. Molar ratio of Ag
2S could be regulated by varying the amount of thioacetamide. The microstructure of composite catalysts was characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. A methane-air mixture with a volume ratio of 1∶12 was used as the simulated low-concentration gas, and the effects of Ag
2S compound ratio, oxidant concentration and light intensity on methane conversion, methanol productivity and selectivity were systematically investigated. The intrinsic mechanism of Z-type heterojunction Ag
2S/AgVO
3 for enhancing the conversion performance of simulated gas was explored by means of transient photocurrent response spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The results indicated that, the prepared AgVO
3 shown a fibrous morphology with monoclinic crystalline phase structure. The in-situ composite Ag
2S was in the form of nanoparticles with an average particle size of 60 nm, and the Ag
2S particles were uniformly distributed on the surface of AgVO
3 fibers. Composite Ag
2S/AgVO
3 exhibited enhanced light absorption compared to single AgVO
3 and Ag
2S. The bandgap energy, valence band and conduction band potentials of AgVO
3 were 2.08 eV, 2.21 V and 0.13 V, and those of Ag
2S were 0.91 eV, 0.34 V and −0.57 V, respectively. The composite catalyst Ag
2S/AgVO
3 shown significantly enhanced gas conversion performance compared to AgVO
3. The methane conversion and methanol production of the optimal catalyst 20% Ag
2S/AgVO
3 irradiated with visible light for 1 h was 3.10 mmol/g and 2.45 mmol/g, which was 1.72 times and 2.63 times higher than that of the single AgVO
3, respectively, and the methanol selectivity was up to 78.9%. The result of 6 cyclic tests shown the excellent catalytic stability of Ag
2S/AgVO
3. The results of energy band structure analysis and EPR test shown that, the Ag
2S/AgVO
3 heterojunction followed the Z-type charge transfer mechanism, which not only enhanced the spatial separation of photogenerated charges, but also maintained strong oxidation-reduction ability, which significantly improved the catalytic performance in the directional conversion of low concentration gas to methanol, and provided a novel idea for the high-efficiency utilization of low-concentration gas in a low-carbon way.