A Hierarchical Z-Scheme CdS-WO 3 Photocatalyst with Enhanced CO 2 Reduction Activity

The development of an artificial photosynthetic system is a promising strategy to convert solar energy into chemical fuels. Here, a direct Z-scheme CdS-WO(3) photocatalyst without an electron mediator is fabricated by imitating natural photosynthesis of green plants. Photocatalytic activities of as-prepared samples are evaluated on the basis of photocatalytic CO(2) reduction to form CH(4) under visible light irradiation. These Z-scheme-heterostructured samples show a higher photocatalytic CO(2) reduction than single-phase photocatalysts. An optimized CdS-WO(3) heterostructure sample exhibits the highest CH(4) production rate of 1.02 μmol h(-1) g(-1) with 5 mol% CdS content, which exceeds the rates observed in…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 51320105001, 51372190, 51272199, 21433007
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Award: 2013CB632402