Boosting light-driven CO2 reduction into solar fuels: Mainstream avenues for engineering ZnO-based photocatalysts

The realization of artificial photosynthesis in the photocatalytic CO2 transformation into valuable chemicals or solar fuels, such as CO, CH4, HCOOH, and CH3OH, by solar-light harvesting is a promising solution to both global-warming and energy-supply issues. Recently, zinc oxide (ZnO) has emerged as an excellent oxidative photocatalyst among non-titanium metal oxides due to its availability, outstanding semiconducting and optical properties, non-toxicity, affordability, and ease of synthesis. However, ZnO wide bandgap and inability to absorb in the visible region has demanded particular modification for its practical use as a sustainable photocatalyst. This review provides a panorama of the latest advancement on ZnO photocatalysis for CO2 reduction with an overview of fundamental aspects. Various modification strategies such as transition metal and non-metal doping, loading of plasmonic metals, and surface vacancy engineering for tunning the properties and improving the performance of ZnO are elaborated. Composites or hetero-structuralization-based Z-scheme formation is also presented along with a detailed photocatalytic reduction mechanism. Moreover, a new novel Step-scheme (Sscheme) heterostructure modification with a charge transfer pathway mechanism is also highlighted. Finally, the key challenges and new directions in this field are proposed to provide a new vision for further improvement for ZnO-based photocatalytic CO2 conversion.

Automated summary

The review provides an overview of the latest advancements in ZnO photocatalysis for CO2 reduction, including fundamental aspects and various modification strategies. It also presents composites or hetero-structuralization-based Z-scheme formation and a detailed photocatalytic reduction mechanism. Additionally, a new novel Step-scheme (Sscheme) heterostructure modification with a charge transfer pathway mechanism is highlighted in this review.