Paulista, LarissaFerreira, A.Castanheira, B.Martins, RamiroDolic, M.Boaventura, RuiVilar, VitorSilva, Tânia2026-03-122026-03-122024Paulista, Larissa; Ferreira, A.; Castanheira, B.; Martins, Ramiro; Dolic, M.; Boaventura, Rui; Vilar, Vitor; Solar-driven thermos-photocatalytic methanation over a structured RuO₂:TiO₂/SBA-15 nanocomposite at low temperature. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. ISSN 1873-3883. 340, p. 1-25. DOI: 10.1016/2023.1232321873-3883http://hdl.handle.net/10198/36049A new hybrid catalyst composed of mesostructured silica SBA-15 functionalized with TiO2 and further loaded with RuO2 was developed to efficiently promote thermo-photocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation into methane at low temperatures. The catalytic activity was assessed with respect to TiO2:RuO2 loading, catalyst dosage, illumination source (polychromatic sunlight and monochromatic LEDs) and power, [H2]:[CO2] molar ratio, temperature, and catalyst reusability. The best methanation yields were attained for the RuO2(6.4%):TiO2(16.9%)/SBA-15 nanocomposite at 150 ºC, under simulated sunlight (0.21 W) and stoichiometric [H2]:[CO2] molar ratio, reaching: a specific CH4 production rate of 13.6 mmol gcat-1 h-1; 99.8 % selectivity; 96.8 % CO2 conversion (110-min; 40 mL); and apparent photonic efficiency/quantum yield of 39.5 %/42.1 %. Considering only the active RuO2:TiO2 photocatalyst mass (23.3 %), the CH4 production rate increased to 58.6 mmol gactive_cat-1 h-1. Besides, this highly-active photocatalyst featured excellent UV-Vis-IR light absorbance, high surface area, and stability for reuse when moist gas was removed between cycles.engSolar-assisted CO2 hydrogenationThermo-photocatalysisRenewable methane productionRuO2:TiO2-functionalized SBAOutstanding UV-Vis-IR light responsejournal article10.1016/2023.123232