Issue 47, 2019

Branch-like ZnS–DETA/CdS hierarchical heterostructures as an efficient photocatalyst for visible light CO2 reduction

Abstract

Exploring high-efficiency photocatalysts for CO2 reduction is highly desirable in view of the current energy and environmental crisis. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of branch-like ZnS–DETA/CdS (DETA = diethylenetriamine) hierarchical heterostructures assembled from ultrathin nanowires for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction under visible light. With ZnS–DETA nanosheets as a precursor, the ZnS–DETA/CdS hierarchical hybrids are readily achieved through a cation-exchange approach, leading to the formation of uniformly distributed heterojunctions in nanodomains and controllable compositions. The systematic physicochemical characterizations reveal that the ZnS–DETA/CdS heterostructures can effectively absorb the visible light, offer large surface area and abundant active sites for CO2 adsorption and surface reactions, and expedite separation and transport of charge carriers. The ZnS–DETA/CdS photocatalyst shows the highest CO generation rate of 33.3 μmol h−1 (i.e., 8325 μmol h−1 g−1) for deoxygenative CO2 reduction. Moreover, the photocatalyst also exhibits high stability and good reusability for the CO2 reduction reaction. In addition, a possible photocatalytic CO2 reduction mechanism over the ZnS–DETA/CdS heterostructure is proposed.

Graphical abstract: Branch-like ZnS–DETA/CdS hierarchical heterostructures as an efficient photocatalyst for visible light CO2 reduction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Sep 2019
Accepted
05 Nov 2019
First published
06 Nov 2019

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019,7, 26877-26883

Branch-like ZnS–DETA/CdS hierarchical heterostructures as an efficient photocatalyst for visible light CO2 reduction

B. Su, L. Huang, Z. Xiong, Y. Yang, Y. Hou, Z. Ding and S. Wang, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019, 7, 26877 DOI: 10.1039/C9TA10470D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements