Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process 162 (2023), 107505

In response to the severe climate change caused by significant carbon dioxide emissions, researchers have been exploring the conversion of CO2 into carbon-based fuels through photocatalytic reactions inspired by photosynthesis. Particulate photocatalysts are known for their easy fabrication and diverse material configuration, with immobilization onto composite polymers enhancing reusability and practicality. In this study, we fabricated a novel freestanding photocatalyst composite film by immobilizing Ag3BiI6 (SBI) onto a nanocellulose (CNF) transparent film using a sequential process involving noble metal nanoparticle solutions and thermal evaporation of BiI3. The effect of the sequence and composition of Au and SBI/CNF on the morphology, optical property, and CO2 photoreduction performance was also investigated. The resulting SBI-Au/CNF film exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction, achieving a CO yield of 31.96 μmol/g⋅h with high stability for long-term photocatalytic reactions lasting 72 h. This study demonstrates the potential of photocatalytic materials to mitigate climate change by converting CO2 emissions into useful fuels.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2023.107505