Unlocking Methane Generation via Photo-Thermal-Coupled CO2 Hydrogenation by Integrating FeNiCrMnCo Multicomponent Alloy with GaN Nanowires.

The exploration of a noble-metal-free photo-thermal-coupled catalytic architecture plays a vital role in solar-driven conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into high-value fuels and chemicals. In this study, FeNiCrMnCo multicomponent alloy (MCA) is integrated with GaN nanowires (NW's) for photo-thermal-coupled catalytic CO2 methanation. The MCA/GaN NW's nanohybrid demonstrates a considerable methane production rate of 199 mmol∙g-1∙h-1 with an impressive selectivity of 93% under white light irradiation of 3 W∙cm-2 at 290 °C by external heating. The turnover number approaches 20,160 mole CH4 per mole of MCA over a continuous operation period of 120 h, showcasing remarkable stability. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the unique MCA provides a flexible platform for tailoring the electronic and catalytic properties to optimize the adsorption and activation of CO₂ and H₂, thus leading to efficient and selective CO₂ methanation. This study presents an industry-friendly architecture for photo-thermal-coupled CO2 hydrogenation into high-value fuels and chemicals by coupling a noble-metal-free multicomponent alloy with GaN NWs, paving the way for advancements in sustainable energy conversion through CO2 utilization.