Synergy between β-Mo2C Nanorods and Non-thermal Plasma for Selective CO2 Reduction to CO

Summary Synergy between plasma and catalysis has long been recognized, but efforts to improve synergy and energy efficiency remain both highly desirable and challenging. Herein, β-Mo2C nanorods were coupled with non-thermal plasma (NTP) to catalyze selective CO2 reduction to CO by H2 or CH4. Unprecedented catalytic activity and selectivity were achieved without additional thermal input, and the turnover frequency (TOF) was an order of magnitude higher than that obtained during thermal catalysis. The porous-structured β-Mo2C nanorods not only possessed large accessible surfaces but also facilitated charge deposition to generate a strong local electric field when NTP was coupled. The interplay between β-Mo2C nanorods and NTP boosted the synergy and energy efficiency: the TOF and CO specific energy yield were 1.4–2 times and ∼10 times higher, respectively, than those of β-Mo2C nanoparticles. This strategy of coupling regularly shaped catalytic materials with NTP provides new opportunities to improve the efficiency of plasma-assisted catalytic processes.