Syngas production by photoreforming of formic acid with 2D V_(x)W_(1-x)N_(1.5) solid solution as an efficient cocatalyst

Formic acid(FA)is a potential biomass resource of syngas with contents of carbon monoxide(CO,60 wt.%)and hydrogen(H_(2),4.4 wt.%).Among the technologies for FA conversion,the photoreforming of FA has received widespread attention due to its use of green solar energy conversion technology and mild reaction conditions.Herein,a V-W bimetallic solid solution,V_(x)W_(1-x)N_(1.5) with efficient co-catalytic properties was first and facilely synthesized.When CdS was used as a photocatalyst,the activity performance of the V_(0.1)W_(0.9)N_(1.5) system was over 60%higher than that of the W_(2)N_(3) system.The computational simulations and experiments showed the V_(0.1)W_(0.9)N_(1.5) had great metallic features and large work functions,contributing a faster photo-generated carrier transfer and less recombination,finally facilitating a great performance in cocatalyst for syngas production in photoreforming FA.This work provides an approach to synthesizing novel transition metal nitrides for photocatalysis.