Atomically-thin Bi2MoO6 nanosheets with vacancy pairs for improved photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Publication date: July 2019Source: Nano Energy, Volume 61Author(s): Jun Di, Xiaoxu Zhao, Cheng Lian, Mengxia Ji, Jiexiang Xia, Jun Xiong, Wu Zhou, Xingzhong Cao, Yuanbin She, Honglai Liu, Kian Ping Loh, Stephen J. Pennycook, Huaming Li, Zheng LiuAbstractExploring efficient strategies to increase CO2 photoreduction performance is a key challenge in the energy conversion field. Herein, a cooperative role involving an ultrathin 2D structure and surface defects is employed to design defective Bi2MoO6 ultrathin nanosheets, to boost the CO2 photoreduction activity under water with no sacrificial agent, co-catalyst or extra photosensitizer. Bi2MoO6 ultrathin nanosheets with surface “BiO″ vacancy pairs are grown via a template-directed strategy, as proved by STEM-ADF and positron annihilation spectroscopy. The engineered “BiO″ vacancy pairs tune the local atomic structure, electronic structure of Bi2MoO6 and serve as charge separation centers to boost the electron-hole separation. Meanwhile, the defective ultrathin structure favors the CO2 adsorption, activation and CO desorption processes. With the merits of atomically-thin configuration and surface defects, the defective Bi2MoO6 ultrathin nanosheets display 2.55 times improved CO formation rate than their bulk counterpart under light irradiation.Graphical abstract

Source: Nano Energy - April 18, 2019 Category: Nanotechnology Source Type: research