ZIF-67-derived Co3O4/MXene Schottky heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction

ZIF-67-derived Co 3 O 4 /MXene Schottky heterojunction is constructed successfully. • MXene concentrates CO 2 molecules and participates in surface redox reactions. • Schottky heterointerface improves photogenerated carrier separation. • Co 3 O 4 /MXene Schottky heterojunction achieves effectively photocatalytic CO 2 reduction to CO. The escalating emission of carbon dioxide necessitates the urgent development of efficient CO 2 conversion technologies. Herein, a novel Co 3 O 4 /MXene Schottky heterojunction photocatalyst was rationally designed and synthesized, where Co 3 O 4 is derived from ZIF-67 and anchored onto MXene nanosheets. The composite demonstrates high activity in photocatalytic CO 2 reduction, achieving a yield rate of 58 μmol g −1 h −1 for CO using triethanolamine (TEOA) as an electron donor, while maintaining excellent stability over multiple cycles. The enhanced performance stems from the Schottky junction between Co 3 O 4 and MXene, which establishes a built-in electric field that drives efficient charge separation and directional carrier flow. Additionally, MXene acts as a cocatalyst that not only concentrates CO 2 molecules near active sites but also participates in surface redox reactions. This work offers an effective strategy for designing high-performance photocatalysts for sustainable solar fuel production. Download: Download high-res image (368KB) Download: Download full-size image A novel ZIF-67-derived Co 3 O 4 /MXene Schottky heterojunction exhibits photocatalytic CO 2 reduction to CO with production rate of 58 μmol g −1 h −1 .