High-throughput lateral and basal interface in CeO2@Ti3C2TX: Reverse and synergistic migration of carrier for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Rational construction of heterogeneous interfaces that maximize carrier flux and allow carrier separation for achieving efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction still remain a challenge. In this work, high throughput and intimate interfaces that allow efficient carrier separation and flux are designed by depositing high-density CeO2 nanoparticles on large-area Ti3C2TX (T = terminal group) nanosheets. Oxygen-containing functional groups of Ti3C2TX nanosheets facilitate the anchoring of CeO2 nanoparticles on the nanosheets via the formation of interfacial Ce-O-Ti bonds, which serve as effective channels for reverse and synergistic migration of electrons and holes to achieve spatial separation. The light absorption of the CeO2@Ti3C2TX composites is extended to the infrared (IR) region due to narrow bandgaps of Ti3C2TX . High-density lateral and basal interfaces enhance carrier migration, which ultimately aids the CeO2@Ti3C2TX composites to exhibit excellent activity for reducing CO2 to alcohols (i.e., methanol and ethanol) under both visible (vis) and IR irradiations. The total amount of produced alcohol under visible irradiation is 109.9 mu mol.gcatal(-1) (methanol and ethanol: 76.2 and 33.7 mu mol.gcatal(-1), respectively), which is 4.3 times higher than that obtained using CeO2 (methanol and ethanol: 19.8 and 6 mu mol.gcatal(-1), respectively). The yields of methanol and ethanol using the optimized CeO2@Ti3C2TX were 102.24 and 59.21 mu mol.gcatal(-1), respectively, after 4 h under the vis-IR irradiation. (C)& nbsp;2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study designs high throughput and intimate interfaces by depositing CeO2 nanoparticles on Ti3C2TX nanosheets, achieving efficient carrier separation and flux. The functional groups of Ti3C2TX facilitate the anchoring of CeO2 nanoparticles and provide effective channels for electron and hole migration. The CeO2@Ti3C2TX composites exhibit excellent activity for CO2 reduction.