Photosynthesis of CH₃OH via oxygen-atom-grafting from CO₂ to CH₄ enabled by AuPd/GaN

The direct co-conversion of methane and carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals has been a longstanding scientific pursuit for carbon neutrality and combating climate change. Herein, we present a photo-driven chemical process that reforms these two major greenhouse gases together to generate green methanol and CO, two high-valued industrial chemicals. Isotopic labeling and control experiments indicate an oxygen-atom-graft occurs, wherein CO₂ transfers one O into the C–H bond of CH₄ via photo-activated interfacial catalysis with AuPd nanoparticles supported on GaN. The photoexcited AuPd/GaN interface effectively orchestrates the CH₄ oxidation and the CO₂ reduction producing 13.66 mmol g⁻¹ of CH₃OH yield over 10 h. This design provides a solid scientific basis for the photo-driven oxygen-atom-grafting process to be further extended to visible light region.