Black indium oxide a photothermal CO(2) hydrogenation catalyst

Nanostructured forms of stoichiometric In(2)O(3) are proving to be efficacious catalysts for the gas-phase hydrogenation of CO(2). These conversions can be facilitated using either heat or light; however, until now, the limited optical absorption intensity evidenced by the pale-yellow color of In(2)O(3) has prevented the use of both together. To take advantage of the heat and light content of solar energy, it would be advantageous to make indium oxide black. Herein, we present a synthetic route to tune the color of In(2)O(3) to pitch black by controlling its degree of non-stoichiometry. Black indium oxide comprises amorphous non-stoichiometric domains of In(2)O(3-x) on a core of crystalline stoichiometric In(2)O(3), and has 100% selectivity towards the hydrogenation of CO(2) to CO with a turnover frequency of 2.44 s(−1).