Construction of the charge transfer channels for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction

Core-shell TiO2@g-C3N4 (TCN) photocatalysts with Pd channels (TPCN) were successfully fabricated, which improve the separation efficiency of electrons and holes. Intercalated Pd single atoms become channels to guide the electrons transfer in a specific direction, which facilitate the transport of the elec-trons. TPCN catalysts exhibit an excellent photocatalytic performance to reduce CO2 into CH4 because the energy to form CO is higher than that of CH4. Importantly, the selectivity for CH4 is also greatly improved and the yield of CH4 increases nearly 5.9 times than TCN. The concept of constructing charge transfer channels is expected to provide new implications for the synthesis of photocatalysts.(c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Core-shell TiO2@g-C3N4 photocatalysts with Pd channels were fabricated to improve the separation efficiency of electrons and holes. The intercalated Pd single atoms act as channels to facilitate electron transfer. The Pd channels significantly enhance the photocatalytic performance of reducing CO2 into CH4.