Crystal phase engineering SiC nanosheets for enhancing photocatalytic CO2 reduction

The reduction of CO2 by photocatalysis has been widely considered, but the rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers on photocatalysts has become a major constraint on efficiency. Herein, we prepare SiC nanosheets with 2H and 3C phase junctions by an in situ high-pressure solvothermal method. The prepared 2H-3C SiC nanosheets promote charge carrier separation and the photocatalytic reduction efficiency of CO2 to CO is greatly improved without using a sacrificial agent. The CO production rate of this photocatalyst reached 6.29 mu mol g(-1) h(-1), which is about 2.4 times that of pure 3C-SiC. This work deepens the understanding of the influence of the heterophase on photocatalytic activity and provides a novel idea for the application of SiC in catalysis.

Automated summary

SiC nanosheets with 2H and 3C phase junctions prepared by an in situ high-pressure solvothermal method promote charge carrier separation and greatly enhance the photocatalytic reduction efficiency of CO2 to CO without using a sacrificial agent.