g-C3N4quantum dots-modified mesoporous CeO2composite photocatalyst for enhanced CO2photoreduction

g-C(3)N(4)quantum dots (CN QDs)-decorated mesoporous CeO(2)composite photocatalyst was prepared by hydrothermal method. The characterized results exhibit that the CN QDs are successfully coupled with mesoporous CeO2, and the photoelectronic response is effectively enhanced. The photocatalytic activity was tested by CO(2)reduction, and the results showed that when the loading of CN QDs was 0.75 wt%, the composite photocatalyst has the best photocatalytic activity. After 10 h of UV irradiation, the yields of CO and CH(4)were 22.48 mu mol/g and 15.81 mu mol/g, respectively. Some of the electrons generated within m-CeO(2)participated in the CO(2)reduction reaction and some were transferred to CN QDs through the two-phase interface to participate in the CO(2)catalytic reaction. The oxygen vacancies in m-CeO(2)can adsorb CO(2)and the introduced CN QDs can excite more oxygen vacancies with m-CeO(2)heterostructure, thereby adsorbing more CO(2)and photoreduction electrons.