ZnFe₂O₄ deposited on BiOCl with exposed (001) and (010) facets for photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ in cyclohexanol

Abstract

ZnFe₂O₄-BiOCl composites were prepared by both hydrothermal and direct precipitation processes and the structures and properties of the samples were characterized by various instrumental techniques. The samples were then used as catalysts for the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ in cyclohexanol under ultraviolet irradiation to give cyclohexanone (CH) and cyclohexyl formate (CF). The photocatalytic CO₂ reduction activities over the hydrothermally prepared ZnFe₂O₄-BiOCl composites were higher than those over the directly-precipitated composites. This is because compared to the direct-precipitation sample, the ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in the hydrothermal sample were smaller and more uniformly distributed on the surface of BiOCl and so more heterojunctions were formed. Higher CF and CH yields were obtained for the pure BiOCl and BiOCl composite samples with more exposed (001) facets than for the samples with more exposed (010) facets. This is due to the higher density of oxygen atoms in the exposed (001) facets, which creates more oxygen vacancies, and thereby improves the separation efficiency of the electron-hole pairs. More importantly, irradiation of the (001) facets with ultraviolet light produces photo-generated electrons which is helpful for the reduction of CO₂ to ·CO₂^–. The mechanism for the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ in cyclohexanol over ZnFe₂O₄-BiOCl composites with exposed (001) facets involves electron transfer and carbon radical formation.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

reduction of CO₂ / cyclohexanol / ZnFe₂O₄ deposited BiOCl / facet / composite photocatalyst

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21176192).

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2017 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg