Photocatalytic CO2 reduction promoted by a CuCo2O4 cocatalyst with homogeneous and heterogeneous light harvesters

Spinel CuCo 2 O 4 nanoplates were synthesized through a solvothermal method coupled with a calcination treatment in air. The prepared CuCo 2 O 4 samples were fully characterized by diverse physical and chemical techniques including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N 2 sorption measurement. The CuCo 2 O 4 material was developed as an efficient, low-cost and stable cocatalyst to boost photochemical CO 2 conversion with Ru(bpy) 3 2+ as a homogeneous photosensetizer. The catalytic performance of the CuCo 2 O 4 samples was evaluated toward visible-light-driven deoxygenative reduction of CO 2 to CO under mild conditions. Various parameters of the reaction system and the synthesis conditions of CuCo 2 O 4 were investigated and optimized to maximize the catalytic performance of CO 2 reduction system. The stability and the reusability of the CuCo 2 O 4 cocatalyst were examined. Moreover, the CuCo 2 O 4 cocatalyst was further proved to be highly active to promote CO 2 photoreduction catalysed by CdS semiconductor as a heterogeneous light harvester, and markedly reinforced photocatalytic CO 2 reduction performance was achieved.