Highly selective photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) to CH_(4) on electron-rich Fe species cocatalyst under visible light irradiation

Efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) to high-calorific-value CH4,an ideal target product,is a blueprint for C_(1)industry relevance and carbon neutrality,but it also faces great challenges.Herein,we demonstrate unprecedented hybrid SiC photocatalysts modified by Fe-based cocatalyst,which are prepared via a facile impregnation-reduction method,featuring an optimized local electronic structure.It exhibits a superior photocatalytic carbon-based products yield of 30.0μmol g^(−1) h^(−1) and achieves a record CH_(4) selectivity of up to 94.3%,which highlights the effectiveness of electron-rich Fe cocatalyst for boosting photocatalytic performance and selectivity.Specifically,the synergistic effects of directional migration of photogenerated electrons and strongπ-back bonding on low-valence Fe effectively strengthen the adsorption and activation of reactants and intermediates in the CO_(2)→CH_(4) pathway.This study inspires an effective strategy for enhancing the multielectron reduction capacity of semiconductor photocatalysts with low-cost Fe instead of noble metals as cocatalysts.

Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to methanol by Cu_2O/SiC nanocrystallite under visible light irradiation

The Cu2O/SiC photocatalyst was obtained from SiC nanoparticles （NPs） modified by Cu2O. Their photocatalytic activities for reducing CO2 to CH3OH under visible light irradiation have been investigated. The results indicated that besides a small quantity of 6H-SiC, SiC NPs mainly consisted of 3C-SiC. The band gaps of SiC and Cu2O were estimated to be about 1.95 and 2.23 eV from UV-Vis spectra, respectively. The Cu2O modification can enhance the photocatalytic performance of SiC NPs, and the largest yields of methanol on SiC, Cu2O and Cu2O/SiC photocatalysts under visible light irradiation were 153, 104 and 191μmol/g, respectively.

One-step synthesis of defected Bi_(2)Al_(4)O_(9)/β-Bi_(2)O_(3) heterojunctions for photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) to CO

Defect and charge transfer efficiency of nano-photocatalysts are important factors which influence their photocatalytic performance.In this work,oxygen vacancies are successfully introduced in the synthesis process of Bi_(2)Al_(4)O_(9)/β-Bi_(2)O_(3)heterojunctions through one-step in situ selfcombustion method.High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM),UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS),and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements confirm the existence of oxygen vacancies.In addition,by controlling the ratio of reactants of Bi(NO_(3))_(3)to Al(NO_(3))_(3),the ratio of Bi_(2)Al_(4)O_(9)and β-Bi_(2)O_(3)in the heterojunction can be easily adjusted.Photocurrent responses and surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPV) indicate that the construction of the Bi_(2)Al_(4)O_(9)/β-Bi_(2)O_(3)heterostructure improves the separation efficiency of the photo-generated electrons and holes.CO_(2)-TPD results imply that the amounts and stability of heterojunctions are enhanced compared with their counterparts.The Bi_(2)Al_(4)O_(9)/β-Bi_(2)O_(3)heterojunction with 14 mol%Bi_(2)Al_(4)O_(9)shows the highest photocatalytic ability for reduction of CO_(2)into CO.The enhanced photoreduction of CO_(2)performance can be ascribed to the synergistic effects of the heterojunction for electron separation and oxygen vacancies for CO_(2)activation.

Room-temperature solid phase surface engineering of BiOI sheets stacking g-C_(3)N_(4) boosts photocatalytic reduction of Cr(Ⅵ)

Cr(Ⅵ)-based compounds pollution have attracted global concern due to serious harm to humans and environment.Hence,it is crucial to exploit an effective technique to eliminate Cr(Ⅵ)in water.Herein,we in-situ grown BiOI on graphitic carbon nitride to prepare the BiOI/g-C_(3)N_(4)(BCN)direct Z-scheme heterojunction by solid phase engineering method at room temperature.Experimental result shown the photocatalytic activity of pure BiOI were obviously enhanced by constructing Z-scheme BCN heterostructure,and BCN-3 heterostructure exhibited the optimal photocatalytic degradation of RhB with 98%yield for 2.5 h and reduction of Cr(Ⅵ)with more than 99%yield for 1.5 h at pH=2.Stability test shows BCN-3 still kept more than 98%reduction efficiency after 6 cycles.In addition,we also studied the reduction mechanism that shown the.O_(2)^(-)radicals essentially helped to reduce the Cr(Ⅵ)in aqueous solution under illumination,verified the direct Z-scheme charge transfer path by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)and the free radical trapping experiment.The work open a new way for rationally designing photocatalyst heterostructure to reduce Cr(Ⅵ)to Cr(Ⅲ).

Indirect photocatalytic reduction of arsenate to arsenite in aqueous solution with TiO_2 in the presence of hole scavengers

The indirect photocatalytic reduction of arsenate to arsenite in aqueous solution with titanium dioxide(TiO_2)was investigated with various hole scavengers such as methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, formaldehyde, acetone,formic acid and acetic acid. Although the direct photocatalytic reduction of arsenate to arsenite with TiO_2 was impossible, an indirect reduction of As(V) was possible in the presence of sacrificial electron donors to form strongly reductive radicals. The addition of ethanol was very effective for indirect photocatalytic reduction of As(V) in aqueous solution with TiO_2 photocatalyst. The indirect photocatalytic reduction rate of As(V) may be related with both the reaction rate constants of reaction of hydroxyl radicals with hole scavenger and the reactivities for the radicals M· which are produced by the reaction of ·OH with hole scavenger.

Facile fabrication of ZnIn2S4/SnS2 3D heterostructure for efficient visible-light photocatalytic reduction of Cr（Ⅵ）

Photocatalytic method has been intensively explored for Cr(VI)reduction owing to its efficient and environmentally friendly natures.In order to obtain a high efficiency in practical application,efficient photocatalysts need to be developed.Here,ZnIn2S4/SnS2 with a three-dimensional(3D)heterostructure was prepared by a hydrothermal method and its photocatalytic performance in Cr(VI)reduction was investigated.When the mass ratio of SnS2 to ZnIn2S4 is 1:10,the ZnIn2S4/SnS2 composite exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity with 100%efficiency for Cr(VI)(50 mg/L)reduction within 70 min under visible-light irradiation,which is much higher than those of pure ZnIn2S4 and SnS2.The enhanced charge separation and the light absorption have been confirmed from the photoluminescence and UV-vis absorption spectra to be the two reasons for the increased activity towards photocatalytic Cr(VI)reduction.In addition,after three cycles of testing,no obvious degradation is observed with the 3D heterostructured ZnIn2S4/SnS2,which maintains a good photocatalytic stability.

The photo-decomposition and self-restructuring dynamic equilibrium mechanism of Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)for stable photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction

Developing suitable photocatalysts and understanding their intrinsic catalytic mechanism remain key challenges in the pursuit of highly active,good selective,and long-term stable photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction(PCO_(2)R)systems.Herein,monoclinic Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)is firstly proven to be a new class of photocatalyst,which has excellent catalytic stability and selectivity for PCO_(2)R in the absence of any sacrificial agent and cocatalysts.Based on a Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)^(13)CO_(3)photocatalyst and 13CO_(2)two-sided^(13)C isotopic tracer strategy,and combined with in situ diffused reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS)analysis and density functional theory(DFT)calculations,two main CO_(2)transformation routes,and the photo-decomposition and self-restructuring dynamic equilibrium mechanism of Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)are definitely revealed.The PCO_(2)R activity of Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)is comparable to some of state-of-the-art novel photocatalysts.Significantly,the PCO_(2)R properties can be further greatly enhanced by simply combining Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)with typical TiO_(2)to construct composites photocatalyst.The highest CO_(2)and CH_(4)production rates by 7.5 wt%Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)-TiO_(2)reach 16.4μmol g^(-1)h^(-1)and 116.0μmol g^(-1)h^(-1),respectively,which are even higher than that of some of PCO_(2)R systems containing sacrificial agents or precious metals modified photocatalysts.This work provides a better understanding for the PCO_(2)R mechanism at the atomic levels,and also indicates that basic carbonate photocatalysts have broad application potential in the future.

Novel oxygen vacancy-enriched Bi_(2)MoO_(6-x)/MoS_(2)S-scheme heterojunction for strengthening photocatalytic reduction CO_(2)and efficient degradation of levofloxacin hydrochloride:Mechanism,DFT calculations

Constructing new photocatalysts for the photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2)and efficient degradation of Lev-ofloxacin is of great importance to renewable energy.Here,S-scheme Bi_(2)MoO_(6-x)/MoS_(2)heterojunction nanospheres containing abundant surface defects(oxygen vacancies)were designed and successfully syn-thesized to enhance CO_(2)photoreduction activity in the absence of other sacrificial agents,co-catalysts or photosensitisers.At the same time,it can efficiently degrade organic pollutants(Levofloxacin).This heterogeneous structure with surface defects provides an abundance of reactive sites,accelerates charge separation and improves oxidation capacity.The improved Bi_(2)MoO_(6-x)/MoS_(2)heterogeneous nanospheres show excellent performance under simulated solar light,with the selectivity and yield of 92.45%and 29.01μmol h−1,respectively,for the generation of CO.Under visible light,the degradation efficiency of levofloxacin hydrochloride(LVX)reached 96.3%within 25 min and remained as high as 95%after three cycles.This work provides a new idea for the design of new S-scheme photocatalysts and an important reference for the preparation of photocatalysts for the efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2)and the efficient degradation of organic pollutants at the same time.

Modified TiO_(2)/In_(2)O_(3) heterojunction with efficient charge separation for visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction to C_(2) product

Utilizing sunlight to convert CO_(2) into chemical fuels could address the greenhouse effect and fossil fuel crisis,Heterojunction structure catalysts with oxygen vacancy are attractive in the field of photocatalytic CO_(2) conversion.Herein,a modified TiO_(2)/In_(2)O_(3)(R-P2 5/In_(2)O_(3-x)) type Ⅱ heterojunction composite with oxygen vacancies is designed for photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction,which exhibits excellent CO_(2) reduction activity,with a C_(2) selectivity of 56.66%(in terms of R_(electron)).In situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(DRIFTS) and time-resolved photoluminescence(TR-PL) spectroscopy are used to reveal the intermediate formation of the photocatalytic mechanism and photogenerated electron lifetime,respectively.The experimental characterizations reveal that the R-P25/In_(2)O_(3-x) composite shows a remarkable behavior for coupling C-C bonds.Besides,efficient charge separation contributes to the improved CO_(2) conversion performance of photocatalysts.This work introduces a type Ⅱ heterojunction composite photocatalyst,which promotes understanding the CO_(2) reduction mechanisms on heterojunction composites and is valuable for the development of photocatalysts.

Regulating^(*)COOH intermediate via amino alkylation engineering for exceptionally effective photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction

Photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) into fuel represents a promising approach for achieving carbon neutrality,while realizing high selectivity in this process is challenging due to uncontrollable reaction intermediate and retarded desorption of target products.Engineering the interface microenvironment of catalysts has been proposed as a strategy to exert a significant influence on reaction outcomes,yet it remains a significant challenge.In this study,amino alkylation was successfully integrated into the melem unit of polymeric carbon nitrides(PCN),which could efficiently drive the photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction.Experimental characterization and theoretical calculations revealed that the introduction of amino alkylation lowers the energy barrier for CO_(2) reduction into^(*)COOH intermediate,transforming the adsorption of^(*)COOH intermediate from the endothermic to an exothermic process.Notably,the as-prepared materials demonstrated outstanding performance in photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction,yielding CO_(2)at a rate of 152.8μmol h^(-1) with a high selectivity of 95.4%and a quantum efficiency of 6.6%.

A novel metal-free porous covalent organic polymer for efficient room-temperature photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction via dry-reforming of methane

At room temperature,the conversion of greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals using metal-free catalysts for dry reforming of methane(DRM) is quite promising and challenging.Herein,we developed a novel covalent organic porous polymer (TPE-COP) with rapid charge separation of the electron–hole pairs for DRM driven by visible light at room temperature,which can efficiently generate syngas (CO and H_(2)).Both electron donor (tris(4-aminophenyl)amine,TAPA) and acceptor (4,4',4'',4'''-((1 E,1'E,1''E,1'''E)-(ethene-1,1,2,2-tetrayltetrakis (benzene-4,1-diyl))tetrakis (ethene-2,1-diyl))tetrakis (1-(4-formylbenzyl)quinolin-1-ium),TPE-CHO) were existed in TPE-COP,in which the push–pull effect between them promoted the separation of photogenerated electron–hole,thus greatly improving the photocatalytic activity.Density functional theory (DFT) simulation results show that TPE-COP can form charge-separating species under light irradiation,leading to electrons accumulation in TPE-CHO unit and holes in TAPA,and thus efficiently initiating DRM.After 20 h illumination,the photocatalytic results show that the yields reach 1123.6 and 30.8μmol g^(-1)for CO and H_(2),respectively,which are significantly higher than those of TPE-CHO small molecules.This excellent result is mainly due to the increase of specific surface area,the enhancement of light absorption capacity,and the improvement of photoelectron-generating efficiency after the formation of COP.Overall,this work contributes to understanding the advantages of COP materials for photocatalysis and fundamentally pushes metal-free catalysts into the door of DRM field.

Effects of surface chlorine atoms on charge distribution and reaction barriers for photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction

Photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction to produce high value-added carbon-based fuel has been proposed as a promising approach to mitigate global warming issues.However,the conversion efficiency and product selectivity are still low due to the sluggish dynamics of transfer processes involved in proton-assisted multi-electron reactions.Lowering the formation energy barriers of intermediate products is an effective method to enhance the selectivity and productivity of final products.In this study,we aim to regulate the surface electronic structure of Bi_(2)WO_(6)by doping surface chlorine atoms to achieve effective photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction.Surface Cl atoms can enhance the absorption ability of light,affect its energy band structure and promote charge separation.Combined with DFT calculations,it is revealed that surface Cl atoms can not only change the surface charge distribution which affects the competitive adsorption of H_(2)O and CO_(2),but also lower the formation energy barrier of intermediate products to generate more intermediate*COOH,thus facilitating CO production.Overall,this study demonstrates a promising surface halogenation strategy to enhance the photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction activity of a layered structure Bi-based catalyst.

Research Progress in Photocatalytic CO_(2) Reduction with ZnIn_(2)S_(4)-Based Nanomaterials(Ⅰ)

Zinc indium sulfide(ZnIn_(2)S_(4),ZIS),a novel photocatalyst with layered nanostructure,has drawn significant attention in the field of photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction in recent years due to various advantages,including non-toxicity,structural stability,easy availability,and suitable band gap.We introduced the types of ZISbased nanomaterials and their action mechanism in photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction.Moreover,we put forward prospects in the future development directions of ZIS-based nanomaterials for photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction.

Research Progress in Photocatalytic CO_(2)Reduction with ZnIn_(2)S_(4)-Based Nanomaterials(Ⅱ)

Zinc indium sulfide(ZnIn_(2)S_(4),ZIS),a novel photocatalyst with layered nanostructure,has drawn significant attention in the field of photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction in recent years due to various advantages,including non-toxicity,structural stability,easy availability,and suitable band gap.We introduce the types of ZIS-based nanomaterials and their action mechanism in photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction.Moreover,we put forward prospects in the future development directions of ZIS-based nanomaterials for photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction.

Near-infrared absorbing 2D/3D ZnIn2S4/N-doped graphene photocatalyst for highly efficient CO2 capture and photocatalytic reduction

Hierarchical heterostructure photocatalysts with broad spectrum solar light utilization,particularly in the nearinfrared(NIR)region,are emerging classes of advanced photocatalytic materials for solar-driven CO2 conversion into value-added chemical feedstocks.Herein,a novel two-demensional/three-demensional(2 D/3 D)hierarchical composite is hydrothermally synthesized by assembling vertically-aligned ZnIn2 S4(ZIS)nanowall arrays on nitrogen-doped graphene foams(NGF).The prepared ZIS/NGF composite shows enhancement in photothermal conversion ability and selective CO2 capture as well as solar-driven CO2 photoreduction.At273 K and 1 atm,the ZIS/NGF composite with 1.0 wt%NGF achieves a comparably high CO2-to-N2 selectivity of 30.1,with an isosteric heat of CO2 adsorption of 48.2 kJ mol^-1.And in the absence of cocatalysts and sacrificial agents,the ZIS/NGF composite with cyclability converts CO2 into CH4,CO and CH3 OH under simulated solar light illumination,with the respective evolution rates about 9.1,3.5,and 5.9 times higher than that of the pristine ZIS.In-depth analysis using in-situ irradiated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(ISI-XPS)in conjunction with Kelvin probe measurements reveals the underlying charge transfer pathway and process from ZIS to NGF.

Bi-, Y-Codoped TiO2 for Carbon Dioxide Photocatalytic Reduction to Formic Acid under Visible Light Irradiation

Bi- and Y-codoped TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized through a sol-gel method, and they were applied in the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to formic acid under visible light irradiation. The results revealed that, after doping Bi and Y, the surface area of TiO2 was increased from 5.4 to 93.1 m2/g when the mole fractions of doping Bi and Y were 1.0% and 0.5%, respectively, and the lattice structures of the photocatalysts changed and the oxygen vacancies on the surface of the photocatalysts formed, which would act as the electron capture centers and slow down the recombination of pho- to-induced electron and hole. The photocurrent spectra also proved that the photocatalysts had better electronic transmission capacities. The HCOOH yield in CO2 photocatalytic reduction was 747.82 μmol/gcat by using 1% Bi-0.5% Y-TiO2 as a photocatalyst. The HCOOH yield was 1.17 times higher than that by using 1% Bi-TiO2, and 2.23 times higher than that by using pure TiO2. Furthermore, the 1% Bi-0.5% Y-TiO2 showed the highest apparent quantum efficiency （AQE） of 4.45%.

Synergy of photocatalytic reduction and adsorption for boosting uranium removal with PMo_(12)/UiO-66 heterojunction

In this work,we proposed a new U(Ⅵ)removal strategy combining adsorption and photocatalytic reduction by the PMo_(12)/UiO-66 heterojunctions.The PMo_(12)has been encapsulated in the cavities of Ui O-66 by a one-step hydrothermal method,and the PMo_(12)/UiO-66 exhibited high adsorption capacity and photocatalytic activity.The maximal theoretical sorption capacity of U(Ⅵ)on 15%PMo_(12)/UiO-66 reached225.36 mg/g and the photoreduction rate of 15%PMo_(12)/UiO-66 is about thirty times as much as UiO-66.Under the light irradiation,the photogenerated electrons rapidly transport from UiO-66 to PMo_(12),and the photo-generated electrons could efficiently reduce the pre-enriched U(Ⅵ)to U(IV).This work provides new insights into remediation of the radioactive environment.

Formation of willow leaf-like structures composed of NH2-MIL68（In） on a multifunctional multiwalled carbon nanotube backbone for enhanced photocatalytic reduction of Cr（VI）

Efficient separation and transfer of photogenerated electron/hole as well as enhanced visible light absorption play essential roles in photocatalytic reactions. To promote the photocatalytic reduction of Cr（VI）, a toxic heavy metal ion, multiwalled carbon nanotube （MWCNT） was introduced as an electron acceptor into NH2-MIL-68（In）. This led to the growth of a willow leaf-like metal-organic framework （MOF） on an MWCNT backbone forming MWCNT/NH2-MIL-68（In） （PL-1）, which showed a highly efficient transfer of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, MWCNT incorporation introduced more mesopores for Cr（VI） diffusion and enhanced the visible light adsorption without lowering the conduction band position. As a result, the photocatalytic kinetic constant of PL-1 was found to be almost three times higher than that of the parent NH2-MIL-68（In）. Thus, growing MOFs on MWCNTs provides a facile and promising solution for effective remediation of environmental pollution by utilizing solar energy. This work provides the first example of using MWCNT/MOF composites for photocatalytic reactions.

Efficient photocatalytic reduction of chromium(Ⅵ) using photoreduced graphene oxide as photocatalyst under visible light irradiation

Graphene oxide(GO),a new and promising material,has been widely used as a co-catalyst in photocatalytic reactions;however,its capacity as a sole photocatalyst has rarely been investigated.In this study,ultraviolet(UV) light irradiation was used as a modification method to obtain reduced GO(rGO) samples.The samples were used as photocatalysts to examine their visible light photocatalytic activity toward hexavalent chromium(Cr(Ⅵ)) removal.Atomic force microscopy(AFM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),UV-vis spectrophotometry,Raman spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and electron spin resonance(ESR) spectroscopy were applied to interpret the surface and structure changes with UV irradiation.The oxygen-containing functional groups(OFGs) on the GO surface were reduced to defective carbons andπ-conjugated C=C(sp^(2) domains) under UV light;this led to a decrease in the interlayer distance between GO sheets,GO fragmentation,and increased disorder on the GO surface.The restoration of sp^(2) domains led to a narrower band gap of GO,which favored the rGO excitation by visible light to generate electron-hole pairs.The rGO pre-irradiated with UV for 1 h(rGO-1),possessing the highest defect density and electron generation efficiency,exhibited the best Cr(Ⅵ) reduction efficiency,which was about three times that of the GO sample;moreover,it outperformed most of the reported GO-based nanomaterials.In addition,low pH and the addition of citric acid as a hole scavenger could further improve the photocatalytic activity.This study proves that GO or rGO can be used as a sole photocatalyst under visible light to remove environmental pollutants such as heavy-metal ions,and it paves the way for the development of this kind of material and its UV-irradiation modification for further applications.

C-doped BiOCl/Bi_(2)S_(3) heterojunction for highly efficient photoelectrochemical detection and photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI)

Novel C-BiOCl/Bi_(2)S_(3) composites are prepared by hydrothermal C doping in BiOCl and in-situ growth of Bi_(2)S_(3) on C-BiOCl.Compared with BiOCl,C-BiOCl has a larger exposed surface area and can effectively absorb visible light.The construction of a heterojunction in C-BiOCl/Bi_(2)S_(3) further promotes the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers.With improved photoelectric properties,the optimized 5C-BiOCl/5Bi_(2)S_(3) is applied as a dual-functional composite for photoelectrochemical(PEC)detection and photocatalytic(PC)reduction of Cr(VI).The 5C-BiOCl/5Bi_(2)S_(3) shows a linear range of 0.02-80μM for PEC cathodic detection of Cr(VI)with a detection limit of 0.01628μM.Additionally,99.5%of Cr(VI)can be removed via absorption and PC reduction by 5C-BiOCl/5Bi_(2)S_(3),with the reduction rate constant(k)336 times higher than that of BiOCl.