Photocatalytic CO 2 Reduction by Carbon-Coated Indium-Oxide Nanobelts

Indium-oxide (In2O3) nanobelts coated by a 5-nm-thick carbon layer provide an enhanced photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO and CH4, yielding CO and CH4 evolution rates of 126.6 and 27.9 μmol h–1, respectively, with water as reductant and Pt as co-catalyst. The carbon coat promotes the absorption of visible light, improves the separation of photoinduced electron–hole pairs, increases the chemisorption of CO2, makes more protons from water splitting participate in CO2 reduction, and thereby facilitates the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO and CH4.

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 21403050, 21503062, U1662138, 21431006
• MO
  Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China

  Awards: 2013CB933900, 2014CB931800
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province

  Award: 1608085MB32