Boosting charge transfer of NiAl-LDH by silicate nanosheets for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction

The layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets are ideal for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. How to suppress the spontaneous agglomeration of LDH remains a challenge. Herein, this work reports that the insulated calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) nanosheets effectively suppress the agglomeration of NiAl-LDH nanosheets by an electrostatic self-assembly. The charge transfer of NiAl-LDH/CSH is effectively promoted, as verified by photo electrochemical characterizations. As a result, the CO and H-2 generation rates from photocatalytic CO2 reduction are as high as 3432 and 1411 mu mol g(-1) h- (1), which are similar to 2.4 times higher than that of the pure NiAl-LDH.

Automated summary

This study reports a method to effectively suppress the agglomeration of NiAl-LDH nanosheets by electrostatic self-assembly, and the enhanced charge transfer is verified by photoelectrochemical characterizations. The results show that the CO and H2 generation rates from photocatalytic CO2 reduction are 2.4 times higher than that of pure NiAl-LDH.