High-throughput lateral and basal interface in CeO2@Ti3C2TX: Reverse and synergistic migration of carrier for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Shuqu Zhang; Wuwan Xiong; Jianfei Long; Yanmei Si; Yong Xu; Lixia Yang; Jianping Zou; Weili Dai; Xubiao Luo; Shenglian Luo

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.011

High-throughput lateral and basal interface in CeO₂@Ti₃C₂T_X: Reverse and synergistic migration of carrier for enhanced photocatalytic CO₂ reduction

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2022 Jun:615:716-724. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.011. Epub 2022 Feb 7.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China.
² Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: wldai81@126.com.

PMID: 35168020
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.011

Abstract

Rational construction of heterogeneous interfaces that maximize carrier flux and allow carrier separation for achieving efficient photocatalytic CO₂ reduction still remain a challenge. In this work, high-throughput and intimate interfaces that allow efficient carrier separation and flux are designed by depositing high-density CeO₂ nanoparticles on large-area Ti₃C₂T_X (T = terminal group) nanosheets. Oxygen-containing functional groups of Ti₃C₂T_X nanosheets facilitate the anchoring of CeO₂ nanoparticles on the nanosheets via the formation of interfacial Ce-O-Ti bonds, which serve as effective channels for reverse and synergistic migration of electrons and holes to achieve spatial separation. The light absorption of the CeO₂@Ti₃C₂T_X composites is extended to the infrared (IR) region due to narrow bandgaps of Ti₃C₂T_X. High-density lateral and basal interfaces enhance carrier migration, which ultimately aids the CeO₂@Ti₃C₂T_X composites to exhibit excellent activity for reducing CO₂ to alcohols (i.e., methanol and ethanol) under both visible (vis) and IR irradiations. The total amount of produced alcohol under visible irradiation is 109.9 μmol•gcatal^-1 (methanol and ethanol: 76.2 and 33.7 μmol•gcatal^-1, respectively), which is 4.3 times higher than that obtained using CeO₂ (methanol and ethanol: 19.8 and 6 μmol•gcatal^-1, respectively). The yields of methanol and ethanol using the optimized CeO₂@Ti₃C₂T_X were 102.24 and 59.21 μmol•gcatal^-1, respectively, after 4 h under the vis-IR irradiation.

Keywords: Ethanol; Lateral and basal heterostructure; Methanol; Photocatalytic CO(2) reduction; Ti(3)C(2)T(X).