Dye-Sensitized Fe-MOF nanosheets as Visible-Light driven photocatalyst for high efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Dye-sensitized system holds great potential for the development of visible-light-responsive photocatalysts not only because it can enhance the light absorption and charge separation efficiency of the systems but also because it can tune the band structure of catalysts. Herein, two-dimensional (2D) Fe-MOF nanosheets (Fe-MNS) with a LUMO potential of 0.11 V (vs. RHE) was prepared. Interestingly, it has been found that when the 2D Fe-MNS catalyst was functionalized with visible-light-responsive [Ru(bpy)](3)(2+) as a dye-sensitizer, the electrons from the [Ru(bpy)](3)(2+) can effectively inject into the 2D Fe-MNS, which resulted in a negative shift of the LUMO potential of the 2D Fe-MNS to -0.15 V (vs. RHE). Consequently, the [Ru(bpy)](3)(2+)/Fe-MNS catalytic system exhibits a sound photocatalytic CO2-to-CO activity of 1120 mu mol g(-1)h(-1) under visible-light-irradiation. The photocatalytic CO production was further ameliorated by regulating the electronic structure of the 2D Fe-MNS by doping Co ions, achieving a remarkable photocatalytic activity of 1637 mu mol g(-1)h(-1). This work further supports that the dye sensitized system is an auspicious strategy worth exploring with different catalysts for the development of visible-light-responsive photocatalytic systems. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Dye-sensitized system shows great potential in developing visible-light-responsive photocatalysts by enhancing light absorption and charge separation efficiency, as well as tuning the band structure of catalysts. This approach can effectively promote photocatalytic reactions under visible light irradiation.