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Adjusting the Reduction Potential of Electrons by Quantum Confinement for Selective Photoreduction of CO 2 to Methanol
Author(s) -
Li Ang,
Wang Tuo,
Li Chengcheng,
Huang Zhiqi,
Luo Zhibin,
Gong Jinlong
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201812773
Subject(s) - quantum dot , selectivity , photocatalysis , charge carrier , materials science , band gap , hydrogen production , hydrogen , nanotechnology , electron , diffusion , photochemistry , electron donor , chemistry , optoelectronics , catalysis , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
Abstract The production of CH 3 OH from the photocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction (PCRR) presents a promising route for the clean utilization of renewable resources, but charge recombination, an unsatisfying stability and a poor selectivity limit its practical application. In this paper, we present the design and fabrication of 0D/2D materials with polymeric C 3 N 4 nanosheets and CdSe quantum dots (QDs) to enhance the separation and reduce the diffusion length of charge carriers. The rapid outflow of carriers also restrains self‐corrosion and consequently enhances the stability. Furthermore, based on quantum confinement effects of the QDs, the energy of the electrons could be adjusted to a level that inhibits the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, the main competitive reaction to PCRR) and improves the selectivity and activity for CH 3 OH production from the PCRR. The band structures of photocatalysts with various CdSe particle sizes were also investigated quantitatively to establish the relationship between the band energy and the photocatalytic performance.