Co -Co Interface Double-Site-Mediated C-C Coupling for the Photothermal Conversion of CO into Light Olefins.

Solar-driven CO hydrogenation into multi-carbon products is a highly desirable, but challenging reaction. The bottleneck of this reaction lies in the C-C coupling of C intermediates. Herein, we construct the C-C coupling centre for C intermediates via the in situ formation of Co -Co interface double sites on MgAl O (Co-CoO /MAO). Our experimental and theoretical prediction results confirmed the effective adsorption and activation of CO by the Co site to produce C intermediates, while the introduction of the electron-deficient state of Co can effectively reduce the energy barrier of the key CHCH* intermediates. Consequently, Co-CoO /MAO exhibited a high C hydrocarbons production rate of 1303 μmol g  h ; the total organic carbon selectivity of C hydrocarbons is 62.5 % under light irradiation with a high ratio (≈11) of olefin to paraffin. This study provides a new approach toward the design of photocatalysts used for CO conversion into C products.