Core-shell LaPO4/g-C3N4 nanowires for highly active and selective CO2 reduction

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2017-02, Vol.201, p.629-635
• Main Authors: Li, Mengli, Zhang, Lingxia, Fan, Xiangqian, Wu, Meiying, Wang, Min, Cheng, Ruolin, Zhang, Linlin, Yao, Heliang, Shi, Jianlin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CO2 photoreduction; Core-shell nanowire; Graphite carbon nitride; Heterostructure; LaPO4
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.09.004

[Display omitted] •Novel 1D LaPO4/g-C3N4 core-shell nanocomposites.•Enhanced photocatalytic CO2 photoreduction performance.•High photostability and selectivity.•Not any novel-metal loading. We have synthesized a series of LaPO4/g-C3N4 core-shell nanowires via an in-situ hydrothermal growth of LaPO4 nanorods in tubular g-C3N4 and investigated their photocatalytic activity in CO2 reduction. It was found that in the synthesized core-shell structure, the outer g-C3N4 nano-shells coated on the LaPO4 nanorod cores resulted in the enhanced light absorption and charge carrier separation/transfer ability, thus improved the room temperature photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposites in CO2 photocatalytic reduction compared with the g-C3N4 and LaPO4 individuals. A maximum CO yield of 0.433μmolhas been obtained from CO2 reduction within 1h irradiation on 30mg nanocomposite photocatalyst under the absence of any noble metal. Finally, a possible mechanism, which is featured with LaPO4 activation due to significantly promoted separation/transfer of photo-generated charge carriers, was proposed. The encouraging performance in CO2 photoreduction demonstrates that this novel nanocomposite will be a prospective material in environmental protection and energy conversion.