Octahedral Cu2O-modified TiO2 nanotube arrays for efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO2

Abstract A photocatalyst composed of TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TNTs) and octahedral Cu 2 O nanoparticles was fabricated, and its performance in the photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 under visible and simulated solar irradiation was studied. The average nanotube diameter and length was 100 nm and ∼5 μm, respectively. The different amount of octahedral Cu 2 O modified TNTs were obtained by varying electrochemical deposition time. TNTs modified with an optimized amount of Cu 2 O nanoparticles exhibited high efficiency in the photocatalysis, and the predominant hydrocarbon product was methane. The methane yield increased with increasing Cu 2 O content of the catalyst up to a certain deposition time, and decreased with further increase in Cu 2 O deposition time. Insufficient deposition time (5 min) resulted in a small amount of Cu 2 O nanoparticles on the TNTs, leading to the disadvantage of harvesting light. However, excess deposition time (45 min) gave rise to entire TNT surface being most covered with Cu 2 O nanoparticles with large sizes, inconvenient for the transport of photo-generated carriers. The highest methane yield under simulated solar and visible light irradiation was observed for the catalysts prepared at a Cu 2 O deposition time of 15 and 30 min respectively. The morphology, crystallization, photoresponse and electrochemical properties of the catalyst were characterized to understand the mechanism of its high photocatalytic activity. The TNT structure provided abundant active sites for the adsorption of reactants, and promoted the transport of photogenerated carriers that improved charge separation. Modifying the TNTs with octahedral Cu 2 O nanoparticles promoted light absorption, and prevented the hydrocarbon product from oxidation. These factors provided the Cu 2 O-modified TNT photocatalyst with high efficiency in the reduction of CO 2 , without requiring co-catalysts or sacrificial agents.