Open AccessIn Situ Constructed P–N Junction on Cu 2 O Nanocubes through Reticular Chemistry for Simultaneously Boosting CO 2 Reduction Depth and Ameliorating Photocorrosion
Author(s) -
Wei Zhihe,
Mu Qiaoqiao,
Li Xian,
Yuan Xuzhou,
Su Yanhui,
Deng Zhao,
Peng Yang,
Shen Mingrong
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced energy and sustainability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2699-9412
DOI - 10.1002/aesr.202100134
Subject(s) - heterojunction , photocatalysis , coating , in situ , chemistry , nanotechnology , charge carrier , chemical engineering , materials science , optoelectronics , catalysis , biochemistry , engineering , organic chemistry
Photocatalytic CO 2 conversion into value‐added chemicals is the one‐stone–two‐birds approach to help meet the carbon neutral goal of near future, and lies on the development of competent photocatalysts that efficiently generate and separate the electron‐hole pairs. Herein, through reticular chemistry a p–n heterojunction is constructed on Cu 2 O nanocubes by in situ transforming the surface to metal–porphyrin coordination polymer. The resulted Cu 2 O@Cu‐TCPP core–shell heterostructure, when used for catalyzing CO 2 reduction, exhibits not only improved activity, but also enhanced reduction depth. This boosted reducing power is attributed to the improved charge separation efficiency and thus populated charge carriers, as a result of the built‐in electron field of the p–n heterojunction. In addition, the Cu‐TCPP coating serves as a protecting sheath to mitigate the self‐corrosion of Cu 2 O. Consequently, this study opens a new avenue of photocatalyst design and fabrication for simultaneously promoting multielectron products and ameliorating photocorrosion issues.