Fabrication of hetero-metal oxide NiCo2V2O8 hollow nanospheres for efficient visible light-driven CO2 photoreduction

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2022-11, Vol.316, p.121663, Article 121663
• Main Authors: Gong, Shuaiqi, Niu, Yanli, Liu, Xuan, Xu, Chen, Xiong, Dengke, Tu, Zhentao, Xu, Mingze, Chen, Zuofeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CO2 reduction; Hetero-metal oxides; Hollow structure; NiCo2V2O8; Photocatalyst
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121663

Design of highly efficient photocatalysts for CO2 reduction to renewable fuels has gained significant attention for energy sustainability and carbon neutralization. Here, we report the fabrication of hetero-metal oxide NiCo2V2O8 hollow nanospheres through self-templating strategy and anion-exchange reaction. The as-prepared NiCo2V2O8 hollow nanospheres exhibit remarkable CO2 photoreduction, achieving a CO generation rate of 198.65 μmol g−1 h−1 (9.64 times higher than the undoped Co3V2O8) with 98.8% selectivity under visible light irradiation. Results of experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that addition of Ni in the hetero-metal oxide and their electronic interaction among d states decrease the bandgap to extend the light absorption, promote CO2 adsorption, and favor the separation of photogenerated charges with inhibited recombination. The in situ FT-IR and Raman spectral results identify the CO2 reduction pathway through COOH* intermediate. This work sheds light on production of solar fuels via an efficient hetero-metal oxide strategy. [Display omitted] •This study develops hetero-metal oxide NiCo2V2O8 hollow nanospheres as a remarkable CO2 reduction photocatalyst.•It can perform visible light-driven CO2 reduction to CO with a selectivity of 98.8% at a rate of 198.65 μmol g−1 h−1.•Experimental and DFT calculation results uncover the enhanced photocatalytic performance by hetero-atom doping.•In situ FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies reveal the selective CO2-COOH*-CO conversion on NiCo2V2O8.