Premium
Ultrathin SiC Nanosheets with High Reduction Potential for Improved CH 4 Generation from Photocatalytic Reduction of CO 2
Author(s) -
Han Cheng,
Wang Bing,
Wu Chunzhi,
Shen Shujin,
Zhang Xiaoshan,
Sun Lian,
Tian Qiong,
Lei Yongpeng,
Wang Yingde
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201900102
Subject(s) - materials science , photocatalysis , graphene , crystallinity , oxide , methanol , carbon fibers , chemical engineering , photochemistry , nanotechnology , catalysis , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , composite number , engineering , metallurgy
Exploitation of low‐cost and efficient photocatalysts for selective reduction of CO 2 into fuels such as methane or methanol is highly desired in the field of solar‐to‐fuel conversion. Herein, ultrathin SiC nanosheets (NSs) with high crystallinity are prepared using two‐dimensional reduced graphene oxide as sacrificial template. The ultrathin feature of SiC NSs readily shortens the migration distance of photoexcited carriers, thereby reducing the recombination probability and providing more energetic electrons to participate in CO 2 reduction. Consequently, both the yield (3.11 μmol h −1 g −1 ) and selectivity (90.6%) of CH 4 over SiC NSs demonstrate dramatic improvements in comparison with that of micro‐size SiC (0.76 μmol h −1 g −1 , 77.9%) and commercial TiO 2 (1.46 μmol h −1 g −1 , 61.0%). The initial absorption and activation of CO 2 molecules on the surface of SiC NSs is confirmed by the in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. The SiC NSs can promote the deep reduction of carbon intermediate into CH 4 thanks to the strong reduction potential of photoexcited electrons. This work not only proves ultrathin SiC NSs to be a promising photocatalyst for CO 2 reduction, but also provides novel insights into deep photoreduction of CO 2 to CH 4 .