Rationally designed hierarchical N-doped carbon@NiCo2O4 double-shelled nanoboxes for enhanced visible light CO2 reduction

Abstract

Here we demonstrate the delicate design and construction of hierarchical nitrogen-doped carbon@NiCo₂O₄ (NC@NiCo₂O₄) double-shelled nanoboxes for the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ with visible light. This smart design rationally combines the structural and functional advantages of catalytically active Co and Ni species with conductive nitrogen-doped carbon into a three-dimensional hollow nanoarchitecture, which can remarkably facilitate the migration and separation of photogenerated charge carriers, enhance the adsorption and concentration of CO₂ molecules, and provide more active sites for photochemical reactions. Benefitting from these unique structural and compositional features, the hierarchical NC@NiCo₂O₄ double-shelled nanoboxes manifest considerable performance for the deoxygenative reduction of CO₂ with a high CO-evolving rate (26.2 μmol h⁻¹; 2.62 × 10⁴ μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹) and high stability.