Two-dimensional nanomaterials for photocatalytic CO₂reduction to solar fuels

Abstract

In this study, we summarize a series of typical 2D nanomaterials for photocatalytic CO2conversion. Furthermore, based on the characteristics of 2D materials and the current status of research on photocatalytic CO2reduction, the challenges and opportunities of 2D materials as prospective photocatalysts for CO2reduction will also be discussed.

Intramolecular Charge Transfer and Extended Conjugate Effects in Donor–π–Acceptor‐Type Mesoporous Carbon Nitride for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

“…Because the photocatalytic activity is highly dependent on the electronic structure, the rational design of novel organic semiconductors to modulate electronic properties is worth exploring. Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ) is an attractive metal‐free photocatalyst for H 2 production . However, in the intrinsic conjugated electronic system consisting of multiple tri‐ s ‐triazine units, the charge separation is uncontrolled as there is no physical force to guide the migration of electrons.…”

“…Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 )i sa n attractivem etal-free photocatalyst for H 2 production. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] However,i nt he intrinsic conjugatede lectronic system consisting of multiple tri-s-triazine units, the charges eparation is uncontrolled as there is no physical force to guide the migration of electrons. The excited electrons could migrate randomly from the bulk to surface reactive sites throught he adjacentt ri-s-triazine units.…”

Strategies for Designing Nanoparticles for Electro‐ and Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

“…2‐dimensional (2D) nanosheets also have a large surface‐to‐volume ratio, and show many advantages of efficient light harvesting and mass transport induced by atomic thickness and large fraction of coordinated unsaturated surface sites that can function as active sites . Representative 2D materials are graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ), 2D metal oxides, and dichalcogenides.…”

“…Representative 2D materials are graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ), 2D metal oxides, and dichalcogenides. The g‐C 3 N 4 is known as a metal free photocatalyst that absorbs visible light and possesses an appropriate band gap of 2.7–2.8 eV; it exhibits sufficiently negative CB potential for CO 2 reduction, thermal and chemical stability, non‐toxicity, and relative ease of synthesis . Since Dong et al.…”

Functional Conjugated Polymers for CO2 Reduction Using Visible Light

“…photoreduction, transition metal complexes [17] or semiconductors [18,19] andm etal-decoratedz eolites [20,21] have been investigated;h owever,c onjugated organic semiconductors have been rarely studied during the last 50 years.…”