Cobalt‐Backboned Oligomer for Record Photocatalytic CO <sub>2</sub> Conversion to Ethanol

Y Yifeng Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science and Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China) S Shuya Hao (Laboratory of Advanced Materials State Key Laboratory of Porous Materials for Separation and Conversion Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China) Y Yanruzhen Wu (State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science and Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China) F Fuyao Huang (State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science and Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China) J Jingyi Pang (Physics Department & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics, Institute of Magnetic Resonance and Molecular Imaging in Medicine, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China) X Xuelu Wang (Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science) X Xin Xu K Kaiwen Zeng (State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science and Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China) G Gengfeng Zheng (Laboratory of Advanced Materials, State Key Laboratory of Porous Materials for Separation and Conversion, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials) H Huisheng Peng

Abstract

Abstract Solar‐driven conversion of CO 2 into value‐added products is promising for renewable energy storage and carbon neutrality. Although current photocatalysts demonstrate the capability to convert CO 2 into multiple carbon products including ethanol, their performance is limited by high C─C coupling energy barrier and inefficient intermediate enrichment. Here we synthesize a cobalt‐backboned oligomer as an efficient photocatalyst to generate a record‐high ethanol production rate of 497 µmol/(g·h) for CO 2 photoreduction. It also maintains high performance in cases with simulated industrial flue gas with ∼15% CO 2 and a Martian‐like atmosphere with ∼95% CO 2 . These properties stem from unique electronic modulation through metal–metal bonding and intermolecular assembly for high‐activity reaction channels. This atomically precise cobalt‐backboned oligomer opens a new avenue for designing photocatalysts.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 9
Published February 23, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

Y

Yifeng Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science and Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China

S

Shuya Hao

Laboratory of Advanced Materials State Key Laboratory of Porous Materials for Separation and Conversion Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China

Y

Yanruzhen Wu

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science and Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China

F

Fuyao Huang

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science and Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China

J

Jingyi Pang

Physics Department & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics, Institute of Magnetic Resonance and Molecular Imaging in Medicine, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China

X

Xuelu Wang

Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science

X

Xin Xu

K

Kaiwen Zeng

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science and Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China

G

Gengfeng Zheng

Laboratory of Advanced Materials, State Key Laboratory of Porous Materials for Separation and Conversion, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials

H

Huisheng Peng