P25@CoAl layered double hydroxide heterojunction nanocomposites for CO2 photocatalytic reduction

Santosh Kumar, Mark A. Isaacs, Rima Trofimovaite, Christopher M.A. Parlett, Richard E. Douthwaite, Ben Coulson, Martin C.R. Cockett, Karen Wilson, Adam F. Lee*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Artificial photosynthesis driven by inorganic photocatalysts offers a promising route to renewable solar fuels, however efficient CO2 photoreduction remains a challenge. A family of hierarchical nanocomposites, comprising P25 nanoparticles encapsulated within microporous CoAl-layered double hydroxides (CoAl-LDHs) were prepared via a one-pot hydrothermal synthesis. Heterojunction formation between the visible light absorbing CoAl-LDH and UV light absorbing P25 semiconductors extends utilisation of the solar spectrum, while the solid basicity of the CoAl-LDH increases CO2 availability at photocatalytic surfaces. Matching of the semiconductor band structures and strong donor–acceptor coupling improves photoinduced charge carrier separation and transfer via the heterojunction. Hierarchical P25@CoAl-LDH nanocomposites exhibit good activity and selectivity (>90%) for aqueous CO2 photoreduction to CO, without a sacrificial hole acceptor. This represents a facile and cost-effective strategy for the design and development of LDH-based nanomaterials for efficient photocatalysis for renewable solar fuel production from particularly CO2 and aqueous water.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)394-404
Number of pages11
JournalApplied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume209
Early online date2 Mar 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jul 2017

Bibliographical note

© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Funding: EPSRC (EP/K021796/1 and EP/K029525/2).

Keywords

  • photocatalysis
  • CO2
  • titania
  • layered double hydroxide
  • nanocomposite

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