Selective Deposition of Cobalt and Copper Oxides on BiVO4 Facets for Enhancement of CO2 Photocatalytic Reduction to Hydrocarbons

Abstract

The nanostructure of a semiconductor is a crucial parameter for efficient photocatalytic performance. Hereby, we have synthesized monoclinic bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) crystals with controlled ratio of {010} and {110} facets. The selective deposition of CuOx and CoOx over {010} and {110} facets has been performed using photo-reduction and photo-oxidation methods, respectively. It resulted in a highly efficient charge separation of photogenerated electrons and holes and enhancement of the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 by H2O into hydrocarbons, including CH4, C2H6 and C3H8. The controlled co-catalyst deposition over different semiconductor facets provides a strategy for the synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO2 and H2O by efficient charge separation.