Understanding the synergistic effect of piezoelectric polarization and the extra electrons contributed by oxygen vacancies on an efficient piezo-photocatalysis CO2 reduction

Abstract

Global climate is facing an unprecedented challenge due to greenhouse gases. Fortunately, piezoelectric catalysis can promote the performance of photocatalysis to reduce CO₂, making the efficiency of using piezo-photocatalysis to reduce CO₂ better than that of piezoelectric catalysis and photocatalysis. This work focuses on the synthesis of oxygen vacancy regulated BiFeO₃ (BiFeO_3−x) for the reduction of CO₂ by piezo-photocatalysis. When the piezo-photocatalysis time is 9 h, the yields of CO₂ reduction to CO and CH₄ reach as high as 142.6 μmol g⁻¹ and 32.8 μmol g⁻¹, respectively. This result is benefited by the synergistic effect of piezoelectric polarization and the extra electrons contributed by oxygen vacancies. Meanwhile, the oxygen vacancies also greatly improve the performance of the piezo-photocatalysis reduction of CO₂. This work may open a new window and provides new ideas for CO₂ reduction by piezo-photocatalysis.