Photocatalysts for CO2 Reduction

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Photocatalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2025 | Viewed by 515

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Interests: nanomaterial; photocatalyst; heterogeneous catalysis; CO2 reduction; selective oxidation

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
Interests: photocatalysis; inorganic nanomaterials; composite material; CO2 photoreduction; photocatalytic mechanism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is widely recognized as a primary driver of global warming and environmental degradation. Photocatalytic CO2 reduction has emerged as a promising approach to address this challenge by efficiently harnessing abundant and clean solar energy into valuable chemical energy. Various photocatalysts, including metal chalcogenide (e.g., TiO2, Bi2WO6 and ZnIn2S4), C3N4, metal–organic frameworks (e.g., MIL-125-NH2, MOF-808 and UiO-66) and covalent-organic frameworks (e.g., COF-5, TpBpy and Py-BSZ-COF), have been explored for suitability in photocatalytic CO2 reduction. However, these materials still demonstrate suboptimal photocatalytic efficiency and have yet to reach practical applicability. Furthermore, a variety of products can be produced through photocatalytic CO2 reduction owing to the complex multiple electron and proton transfer processes, which induce depressing product selectivity. Therefore, a key challenge persists in the development of photocatalysts that can achieve both high catalytic activity and selectivity. Overcoming these challenges is essential for the photocatalytic CO2 reduction progression, facilitating the development of more efficient and sustainable photocatalytic systems aimed at mitigating carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy solutions.

The Special Issue titled "Photocatalysts for CO2 Reduction" focuses on the development, characterization, and application of advanced photocatalysts for converting CO2 into valuable chemicals or fuels. This Issue welcomes original research, reviews, and perspectives on innovative materials preparation and catalytic mechanisms to enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The key areas of interest include the design and synthesis of novel photocatalysts, insights into reaction pathways, and strategies to improve the selectivity, stability, and scalability of photocatalytic CO2 reduction processes in order to pave the way for scalable and sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change and promote environmental remediation.

Dr. Huanhuan Liu
Dr. Changfa Guo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • photocatalysis
  • photocatalyst
  • composite material
  • heterojunction
  • CO2 reduction
  • selectivity in CO2 reduction
  • catalytic mechanism

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 4196 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction via CCH/g-C3N4 Heterojunction: Optimizing Charge Carrier Dynamics and Visible-Light Utilization
by Xinpeng Mo, Hong Zhong, Chenhuan Hu, Haoxiong Jin, Xianfeng Liu, Huanhuan Liu and Genqiang Zhang
Catalysts 2025, 15(2), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15020184 - 17 Feb 2025
Abstract
The photocatalytic CO2 reduction (PCR) into value-added fuels offers a promising solution to energy shortages and the greenhouse effect, thanks to the mild conditions and environmental sustainability. However, the activation of CO2 is challenging because of the thermodynamic stability and chemical [...] Read more.
The photocatalytic CO2 reduction (PCR) into value-added fuels offers a promising solution to energy shortages and the greenhouse effect, thanks to the mild conditions and environmental sustainability. However, the activation of CO2 is challenging because of the thermodynamic stability and chemical inertness of CO2 molecules, which significantly restricts the efficiency of PCR. Cobalt carbonate hexahydrate (CCH), known for its excellent CO2 adsorption and activation properties, faces challenges like poor electron–hole separation and photoresponse. To address these issues, graphitic carbon nitride (CN) as a “pseudo-sensitizer” was introduced into the system by an in situ heterojunction synthesis strategy to produce CCH/CN photocatalyst, where Co–N bonds formed between CCH and CN enhance charge carrier migration and lower interfacial resistance. The CCH/CN catalyst achieved a CO production rate of 19.65 μmol g−1 h−1, outperforming CCH, CN, and a mechanically mixed sample (Mix) by 7.74, 2.31, and 1.77 times, respectively. This work demonstrates an effective strategy for designing heterojunction catalysts to improve visible light utilization and charge transfer for efficient CO2 reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalysts for CO2 Reduction)
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