In-situ growth of ultrafine ZnO on g-C3N4 layer for highly active and selective CO2 photoreduction to CH4 under visible light. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Chi; Jin, Jingpeng; Chen, Shengtao; Wang, Tingxia; Xiao, Jiangrong; Peng, Tianyou
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 137(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: g-C3N4/ZnO composite -- CO2 photoreduction -- Charge transfer -- Photocatalytic activity -- CH4 selectivity; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2020.111177
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: g-C3 N4 /ZnO composite is fabricated via refluxing zinc salt solution containing g-C3 N4 . In-situ grown ultrafine ZnO decorated on g-C3 N4 thin layers with well-defined interface. Efficient charge separation and CO2 adsorption/activation are attained in the composite. g-C3 N4 /ZnO delivers an overall photoactivity and CH4 selectivity than the g-C3 N4 alone. Abstract: Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to solar fuels is considered as a promising strategy to address the global warming and energy shortages. Herein, a novel method is proposed to prepare g-C3 N4 /ZnO nanocomposites via refluxing zinc salt methanol solution containing pre-formed g-C3 N4 with KOH methanol solution as precipitating agent. Some in-situ grown ultrafine ZnO nanoparticles are decorated on ultrathin g-C3 N4 layers with well-defined interface, which not only causes efficient charge transfer and separation, but also creates more active sites for CO2 adsorption and activation. The resultant g-C3 N4 /ZnO composites demonstrate significant enhanced CO2 photoreduction activity and selectivity for CH4 production under visible light irradiation, and the optimal g-C3 N4 /ZnO composite delivers the best overall photoactivity (158.4 μmol g −1 h −1 ) with CH4 /CO production rates of 19.8/0.37 μmol g −1 h −1, which is 9.42 times higher than that of g-C3 N4 alone. This work provides an ideal synthetic strategy for g-C3 N4 -based hybrid materials with highly efficient CO2 photoreduction.