Issue 2, 2020

Self-templated synthesis of Co3O4 hierarchical nanosheets from a metal–organic framework for efficient visible-light photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Abstract

Efficient photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into energy-rich chemicals is of great significance for both environmental conservation and alleviating the energy crisis. However, convenient synthesis of low-cost, durable and eco-friendly photocatalysts with a novel morphology or structure for highly selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction remains a challenge. Herein, Co3O4 hierarchical nanosheets were synthesized by calcination of novel cobalt metal–organic framework (MOF) nanosheets prepared by a facile oil bath method. In such Co MOF nanosheets, 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid was chosen as the organic linker, rather than the commonly used 2-methylimidazole for ZIF-67. After thermal treatment in air, the obtained Co3O4 inherited the 2D morphology of its MOF template and evolved into hierarchical nanosheets which were composed of small nanoparticles. Benefiting from the large surface area, abundant mesoporous structure and good capability towards the separation and transfer of photo-generated charge carriers induced by less internal oxygen vacancies, the Co3O4 hierarchical nanosheets showed a CO generation rate of 39.70 μmol h−1 in visible-light photocatalytic CO2 reduction, which was superior to that of Co3O4 nanoparticles and commercial Co3O4. What's more, a CO selectivity of 77.3% was achieved, which is among the highest of cobalt-based spinel oxide photocatalysts for CO2 conversion.

Graphical abstract: Self-templated synthesis of Co3O4 hierarchical nanosheets from a metal–organic framework for efficient visible-light photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 Oct 2019
Accepted
16 Nov 2019
First published
18 Nov 2019

Nanoscale, 2020,12, 755-762

Self-templated synthesis of Co3O4 hierarchical nanosheets from a metal–organic framework for efficient visible-light photocatalytic CO2 reduction

J. Ren, Y. Zheng, K. Yuan, L. Zhou, K. Wu and Y. Zhang, Nanoscale, 2020, 12, 755 DOI: 10.1039/C9NR08669B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements