In Situ Fabrication of Metal Chalcogenide on Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Liquid Fuel

Abstract

A highly effective photocatalyst ought to have an adequate number of active sites, use enough photons, and transport excited electron–hole pairs rapidly. This study describes how an in situ developing approach was successfully used to produce a highly active, affordable composite. Because of its highly uniform surface, the chosen MOF permits active sites in the photocatalytic reduction activity and provides sufficient space for the chalcogenide nanoparticles to disperse. The as-synthesized chalcogenide has a larger surface area than the one that was reported previously. Additionally, in comparison to pure MOF and chalcogenide, the combination displays a higher ability to absorb light. The separation and transmission of photoexcited electron–hole pairs are accelerated by the significant reduction in the rate of photogenerated carrier recombination. Characterization techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet absorption (UV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), are used to thoroughly examine and analyze the morphological, compositional, structural, and optical characteristics. The distinctive peaks that corresponded to the JCPDS data stood in accordance with the XRD pattern of the synthesized semiconductor. A thorough investigation of photocatalysis under light irradiation was carried out using a simple photoreactor system. The desirable rate of ethanol production was 3730.29 μmol g–1 h–1 at a 30% addition ratio of MOF, showing improved CO2 reduction efficiency when compared with pure synthesized chalcogenide and MOF following a Z-scheme heterojunction.