Cu media constructed Z-scheme heterojunction of UiO-66-NH2/Cu2O/Cu for enhanced photocatalytic induction of CO2

Z-scheme heterojunction can effectively separate photo-generated carriers and enhance photocatalytic activity of CO2 reduction. In this work, we report indirect Z-scheme heterojunction of UiO-66-NH2/Cu2O/Cu, which achieves highly CO2 photocatalytic conversion to CO. Among these, UiO-66-NH2/Cu2O/Cu-0.39 (U/C/Cu-0.39) displays the best activity with a CO yield of 4.54 mu mol.g(-1).h(-1), which is 37.8 times higher than that for UiO-66-NH2 and 50.4 times higher than that for Cu2O. Cu not only acts as the electron conductor of the indirect Z-scheme heterojunction to promote the charge carrier transmission, but also acts as the active site of CO2 reduction. The increase of active sites and the CO2 adsorption capacity results in the superior photocatalytic performances.

Automated summary

The Z-scheme heterojunction of UiO-66-NH2/Cu2O/Cu effectively enhances the photocatalytic conversion of CO2 to CO, with UiO-66-NH2/Cu2O/Cu-0.39 displaying the best activity. Copper serves as both an electron conductor and an active site for CO2 reduction in this system, leading to superior photocatalytic performance.