Visible light assisted photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to methanol using Fe3O4@N-C/Cu2O nanostructure photocatalyst

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. A, Chemistry. Chemistry., 2020-10, Vol.401, p.112763, Article 112763
• Main Authors: Kazemi Movahed, Siyavash, Najinasab, Amir, Nikbakht, Roonak, Dabiri, Minoo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CO2; Copper oxide; Magnetic; Methanol; Photoreduction
• ISSN: 1010-6030; 1873-2666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2020.112763

[Display omitted] •Synthesis and characterization of Fe3O4@N-C/Cu2O nanostructures.•The Fe3O4@N-C/Cu2O shows highest visible-light activity of CO2 photoreduction.•N-C layer improves the photocatalytic activity in CO2 photoreduction.•The Fe3O4@N-C/Cu2O photocatalyst showed high stability. Copper oxide (I) nanoparticles decorated on nitrogen-doped carbon (N-C) rod-shaped core-shell nanostructure have been successfully prepared. The nanostructures have been developed by the reduction of Cu2+ with ascorbic acid over Fe3O4@N-C rod-shaped core-shell nanostructure followed by aerobic oxidation of copper nanoparticles. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of Fe3O4@N-C/Cu2O nanostructure was evaluated in selective CO2 reduction and methanol was observed as the main product over Fe3O4@N-C/Cu2O. The photocatalytic activity of Fe3O4@N-C/Cu2O for CO2 reduction was found to be about four times higher than that of Fe3O4@Cu2O photocatalyst, which might be due to the enhancement of visible light absorption and facilitating the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.