Integrated nano-architectured photocatalysts for photochemical CO₂ reduction

Abstract

Recent advances in nanotechnology, especially, development of integrated nanostructured materials has offered unprecedented opportunity for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Compared to bulk semiconductor photocatalyst, most of these nanostructured photocatalysts offer at...

Recent Advances in Quantum Dots for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction: A Mini-Review

“…However, to exhibit the CO 2 photoreduction, the photocatalyst should have the ability to adsorb CO 2 and must possess its valence band (VB) at more positive potential than the water oxidation potential and conduction band (CB) at more negative potential than the CO 2 R potential ( Xie et al, 2016 ). It should be noted that CO 2 R into CO 2 .─ radicals through single electrons transfer is unfavorable to occur because of the required high negative potential for the electrons in the CB of photocatalyst (−1.9 V vs NHE) ( Shit et al, 2020 ). However, owing to relatively lower negative potential required for the conversion of CO 2 into hydrocarbons, the proton-assisted multielectron transfer process is more favorable ( Shit et al, 2020 ).…”

“…It should be noted that CO 2 R into CO 2 .─ radicals through single electrons transfer is unfavorable to occur because of the required high negative potential for the electrons in the CB of photocatalyst (−1.9 V vs NHE) ( Shit et al, 2020 ). However, owing to relatively lower negative potential required for the conversion of CO 2 into hydrocarbons, the proton-assisted multielectron transfer process is more favorable ( Shit et al, 2020 ). Depending on the number of participated electrons, various gas and liquid phase hydrocarbons, such as carbon monoxide (CO), formic acid (CH 2 O 2 ), oxalic acid (C 2 H 2 O 4 ), formaldehyde (CH 2 O), acetaldehyde (C 2 H 4 O), methanol (CH 3 OH), methane (CH 4 ), ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), and ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH), are produced in the CO 2 R reaction ( Shit et al, 2020 ) ( Figure 1B ).…”

“…However, owing to relatively lower negative potential required for the conversion of CO 2 into hydrocarbons, the proton-assisted multielectron transfer process is more favorable ( Shit et al, 2020 ). Depending on the number of participated electrons, various gas and liquid phase hydrocarbons, such as carbon monoxide (CO), formic acid (CH 2 O 2 ), oxalic acid (C 2 H 2 O 4 ), formaldehyde (CH 2 O), acetaldehyde (C 2 H 4 O), methanol (CH 3 OH), methane (CH 4 ), ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), and ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH), are produced in the CO 2 R reaction ( Shit et al, 2020 ) ( Figure 1B ). Major concerns existing for the efficient photocatalytic CO 2 R are 1) photocatalyst materials’ limited light absorption ability, 2) quick recombination of photogenerated charge carriers, and 3) poor adsorption of CO 2 molecules on the photocatalyst surface.…”

Bimetallic zeolite-imidazole framework-based heterostructure with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production activity

“…The direct conversion of sustainable solar power into ecofriendly energy over high performance photocatalysts has been extremely signicant for powering human society. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Up to now, it is universally recognized that the serious recombination, underutilization and poor transport of photon-generated carriers weaken the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst. [8][9][10][11][12] Consequently, extensive efforts have been devoted to constructing heterostructures or phase junctions, which could increase the specic surface area of the photocatalyst, 2, [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] and adopting a suitable cocatalyst for improving the separation, transport and utilization of the photo-induced charge carriers.…”

Facile one-step synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of a WC/ferroelectric nanocomposite

“…1 In this respect, direct use of natural solar energy through photocatalysts represents an important area of technology. When refined the approach could be used to provide useful chemicals, 2 reduce CO2 in the atmosphere 3 or using narrow band-gap materials to produce fuels. 4 Despite abundant studies on semiconductors, including a variety of inorganic metal oxides (such as TiO2, ZnO, WO3 and SnO) [5][6][7][8][9] and sulfides (ZnS and CdS), [10][11][12][13][14] and the development of a variety of structures 15 their photocatalytic efficiency is still far from satisfactory.…”