Photothermal Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds Over Co3O4-Based Inverse Opal

The growing preference for photothermal catalysis stems from its minimal energy consumption and heightened catalytic efficacy. Nonetheless, material photon utilization efficiency is frequently hindered by catalyst structural design constraints and bandgap limitations. Herein, we present a Co3O4-based inverse opal featuring a three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM-Co3O4) architecture tailored for photothermal VOCs oxidation. The 3DOM-Co3O4 exhibits superior catalytic performance in carbon monoxide oxidation, methane oxidation, and toluene oxidation, with a photothermal enhancement of more than 100 %. Further experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that the three-dimensional periodic array of pores facilitates the slow photon effect, augmenting the light absorption capabilities of the catalyst. Thus, it generates more photoexcited electrons, promoting VOCs molecular activation. Additionally, the well-ordered porous structure facilitates the diffusion of reactants and products, further accelerating the catalytic reaction. This work highlights promising prospects for leveraging inverse opals as an innovative strategy towards enhancing photothermal catalytic VOCs oxidization efficiency.