A bismuth rich hollow Bi4O5Br2 photocatalyst enables dramatic CO2 reduction activity. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jin, Xiaoli; Lv, Chade; Zhou, Xin; Xie, Haiquan; Sun, Shanfu; Liu, Yue; Meng, Qingqiang; Chen, Gang
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 64(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: Bismuth rich -- Hollow structure -- Bi4O5Br2 -- Photocatalytic CO2 reduction -- Solar fuels; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.103955
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: The insufficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers and faint CO2 capture remains the major obstacles for photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into solar fuel. Rational design of semiconductor photocatalysts with unique structures may be promising to break this bottleneck. Herein, bismuth rich Bi4 O5 B2 hollow microspheres are designed as a robust photocatalyst for efficient CO2 reduction. Thanks to the bismuth rich strategy, the highly dispersed band structure and the elevated conduction band (CB) potential facilitate the charge transfer and photoreduction ability. Meanwhile, hollow structure provides the large specific area and creates a resonance in its interior to enhance the CO2 adsorption and activation. Benefiting from the collaborative promotion effect, the local charge arrangement and electronic structure are tuned so as to an exceptional efficiency of photocatalytic CO2 conversion into CO (3.16 μmol g −1 h −1 ) and CH4 (0.5 μmol g −1 h −1 ) is attained over hollow Bi4 O5 Br2, which is superior to that of solid Bi4 O5 Br2 and BiOBr, as well as other reported Bi-based photocatalysts. This work paves new opportunities for exploring high-efficiency CO2 photoreduction catalysts. Graphical abstract: A bismuth rich hollow Bi4 O5 Br2 photocatalyst is successfully developed. Taking advantage of the unique bismuth rich and hollow structure, large surface area, enhanced photo-induced charge transfer and reducibility, stronger CO2 adsorption and activation are achieved on hollow Bi4 O5 Br2, which contribute the superior photocatalytic CO2 conversion into hydrocarbon fuels.Image 1 Highlights: Hollow Bi4 O5 Br2 hierarchical microsphere is successfully synthesized. Hollow Bi4 O5 Br2 exhibits superior photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity. The CO2 photoreduction may undergo a pathway including COOH* as the main intermediate.