Nanoscale 2D g-C3N4 decorating 3D hierarchical architecture LDH for artificial photosynthesis and mechanism insight

Herein, an ACNNSLDH composite was rationally designed and successfully synthesized by decorating of 3D hierarchical architecture LDH with ultrathin nanoscale g-C3N4, which demonstrated an excellent efficiency in photoreduction of CO2 reaction under pure H2O media. The well-designed heterostructure was fully confirmed by XPS, UPS, in-situ XPS characterizations, which pronouncedly resulted in prolonged lifetime and accelerated separation/transport kinetics of photo-induced carries. Supported by in-situ DRIFTS, the photoreaction process was synergistically driven by two mechanisms, we called center dot CO2- pathway and COOH* mechanism. In darkness, multiple carbonate species with activated O-C-O bonds were bound upon surface of ACNNSLDH profited from LDH, whilst ACNNS mainly played the pivotal role in light reaction process on account of the great virtue in the conversion of solar energy. The synergistic enhancement effect stimulative ability to bind and activate CO2 molecule as well as to balance light utilization simultaneously, eventually turning out to boost the reactivity toward CO2.

Automated summary

An ACNNSLDH composite with excellent efficiency in photoreduction of CO2 reaction was successfully synthesized, driven by two mechanisms synergistically, leading to higher reactivity towards CO2.