Preparation and photocatalytic CO 2 reduction performance of silver nanoparticles coated with coal‐based carbon dots

Summary Currently, the best approach to solve the increasing CO 2 emission and energy shortage problems comes from catalytic CO 2 reduction into organic fuels using solar radiation. Using inexpensive coal samples, here we synthesized coal‐based luminescent carbon dots (CDs) by H 2 O 2 oxidation method. Coated composite nanoparticle Ag/CDs were then fabricated using a simple silver mirror reaction to attach CDs in situ to Ag surface. The lattice structure of Ag/CDs was characterized, and the performance of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction into hydrocarbons was investigated. The surface of the composite contains a large number of oxygen groups and mesoporous interface from accumulation of uniform‐sized particles, demonstrating good adsorption capability for CO 2 . Thanks to the broad absorption spectra extending into the visible range and low recombination rate of photogenerated electron‐hole pairs, the composite nanoparticles can be applied in the photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. Compared with individual Ag and CDs, Ag/CDs exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity for CO 2 reduction.