In-situ synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4/g-C3N4 heterojunction for superior visible light-driven CO2 reduction

Efficient solar to chemical energy conversion by promising semiconductor-based photocatalysis has gained huge interest due to being a potential solution for environmental remediation and energy problems. Though, the inadequate photogenerated charge separation practically limits the photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, mesoporous g-C3N4 & nbsp;(CN) nanosheets coupled Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) hybrid composite as visible-light-driven photo catalyst is synthesized by a facile in situ hydrothermal self-assembly method and investigated for CO2 photocatalytic reduction. The hybrid composite shows a slight red shift to the visible region with enhanced optical absorption. Under visible light irradiation, experimental results exhibit CZTS-CN hybrid composite has CO/CH4 yield rates of 12.01/3.76 mu mol g(-1) after 5h, which are 1.54/1.41 times higher in comparison with bare CN. The heterojunction formation between CZTS and g-C(3)N(4 & nbsp;)is restraining the electron-hole recombination and improves the photocatalytic performance. Finally, acceptable underlying mechanisms for CO2 photocatalytic reduction over CZTS-CN hybrid composite are proposed. This work may inspire readers to provide sufficient guidance to design high-performance photocatalysts.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the synthesis of a mesoporous g-C3N4/CZTS hybrid composite for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic reduction of CO2. The results show improved photocatalytic performance and propose underlying mechanisms, providing guidance for the design of high-performance photocatalysts.