Remarkable CO2 Photocatalytic Reduction Enabled by UiO-66-NH2 Anchored on Flower-like ZnIn2S4

Abstract: The utilization of renewable solar energy for the photocatalytic transformation of carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable chemical substances is considered an optimal strategy to simultaneously address climate challenges and tackle energy scarcity. Herein, we prepared heterojunction photocatalysts UiO-66-NH2/ZnIn2S4, which were successfully applied in the photocatalytic reduction of CO2. The yield of the main product CO, for the optimal UiO-66-NH2/ZnIn2S4-2 sample could reach up to 57 μmol g-1 h-1 when converting CO2 under the visible light irradiation, which was approximately 3.35 and 2.71 times higher than that achieved by the individual UiO-66-NH2 and ZnIn2S4 samples, respectively. The better photocatalytic performance of the UiO-66-NH2/ZnIn2S4-2 composites can be attributed to its synergistic effect resulting from tight interfacial contacts, special charge transfer pathways and excellent CO2 adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the intimate contact between UiO-66-NH2 and flower-like ZnIn2S4 accelerates electron transmission while effectively suppressing the quenching of photogenerated carriers. This research provides vital knowledge for the rational design of heterostructures aimed at enhancing the efficiency of CO2 photocatalysis for solar fuel production.