Efficient Hole Trapping in Carbon Dot/Oxygen-Modified Carbon Nitride Heterojunction Photocatalysts for Enhanced Methanol Production from CO2 under Neutral Conditions

Artificial photosynthesis of alcohols from CO2 is still unsatisfactory owing to the rapid charge relaxation compared to the sluggish photoreactions and the oxidation of alcohol products. Here, we demonstrate that CO2 is reduced to methanol with 100 % selectivity using water as the only electron donor on a carbon nitride-like polymer (FAT) decorated with carbon dots. The quantum efficiency of 5.9 % (lambda=420 nm) is 300 % higher than the previously reported carbon nitride junction. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, we observed that holes in FAT could be extracted by the carbon dots with nearly 75 % efficiency before they become unreactive by trapping. Extraction of holes resulted in a greater density of photoelectrons, indicative of reduced recombination of shorter-lived reactive electrons. This work offers a strategy to promote photocatalysis by increasing the amount of reactive photogenerated charges via structure engineering and extraction before energy losses by deep trapping.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a method using a carbon nitride-like polymer for artificial photosynthesis, reducing carbon dioxide to methanol with 100% selectivity. By extracting holes, the density of photoelectrons is increased effectively, reducing recombination and energy losses.