Quantum Dots: Carbon Quantum Dots/Cu₂O Heterostructures for Solar‐Light‐Driven Conversion of CO₂ to Methanol (Adv. Energy Mater. 5/2015)

In article number 1401077 Douglas R. MacFarlane and co-workers report a new type of CO2-reducing photocatalyst that is based on a cuprous oxide heterostructure. The catalyst is able to absorb light energy to create an excited state electron that is capable of driving the chemical reduction of CO2 to methanol under solar-light irradiation. It exhibits excellent stability during the conversion process, which is attributed to the photoinduced electron transfer properties of the carbon quantum dots.