Boosting exciton dissociation and charge transfer in CsPbBr QDs via ferrocene derivative ligation for CO photoreduction.

Photo-catalytic CO reduction with perovskite quantum dots (QDs) shows potential for solar energy storage, but it encounters challenges due to the intricate multi-electron photoreduction processes and thermodynamic and kinetic obstacles associated with them. This study aimed to improve photo-catalytic performance by addressing surface barriers and utilizing multiple-exciton generation in perovskite QDs. A facile surface engineering method was employed, involving the grafting of ferrocene carboxylic acid (FCA) onto CsPbBr (CPB) QDs, to overcome limitations arising from restricted multiple-exciton dissociation and inefficient charge transfer dynamics. Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy and XPS spectral confirmed successfully creating an FCA-modulated microelectric field through the Cs active site, thus facilitating electron transfer, disrupting surface barrier energy, and promoting multi-exciton dissociations. Transient absorption spectroscopy showed enhanced charge transfer and reduced energy barriers, resulting in an impressive CO-to-CO conversion rate of 132.8 μmol g h with 96.5% selectivity. The CPB-FCA catalyst exhibited four-cycle reusability and 72 h of long-term stability, marking a significant nine-fold improvement compared to pristine CPB (14.4 μmol g h). These results provide insights into the influential role of FCA in regulating intramolecular charge transfer, enhancing multi-exciton dissociation, and improving CO photoreduction on CPB QDs. Furthermore, these findings offer valuable knowledge for controlling quantum-confined exciton dissociation to enhance CO photocatalysis.