Construction of columnar cactus-like 2D/1D CdxCu1-xS@CuO shell-core structure photocatalyst for the reduction of CO2 to methanol

Abstract Nanostructure photocatalysts with unique and stable structure and high specific surface area are expected to be widely used in photocatalytic CO2 reduction. In this paper, columnar cactus-like CdxCu1-xS/CuO/CM composite catalyst was prepared by a simple method combining thermal oxidation with a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. The combination of CdxCu1-xS nanosheets and CuO nanowires can significantly improve the specific surface area, capacity of light capture and absorption and separation of electrons and holes inside which were beneficial for efficiency of photocatalysis. Their complementary conduction band and valence band positions synergistically form p-n heterojunctions, achieving the effect of multi-level charge separation. The 2D/1D CdxCu1-xS/CuO/CM have better photocatalytic activity than pure CuO nanowires in the production of methanol by using solar energy to reduce CO2. After 4 h of irradiation, the methanol yield of 2D/1D CdxCu1-xS/CuO/CM reached 3.60 μmol g−1 cat, which was 2.81 times the yield of pure CuO/CM. This work has certain significance for the development of new energy and environmental protection.