Au as a cocatalyst loaded on solid solution Bi0.5Y0.5VO4 for enhancing photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity

Abstract Au as a cocatalyst was deposited on the surface of solid solution Bi0.5Y0.5VO4 by a photodeposition method for photocatalytic reduction of CO2. Au particles loaded on the surface of Bi0.5Y0.5VO4 apparently enhanced the photocatalytic activity of CO2 reduction toward CO evolution. The highest rate of CO evolution was obtained over 1.0 wt% Au/Bi0.5Y0.5VO4, reaching 3.5 times of that of bare Bi0.5Y0.5VO4. The improved photocatalytic performance was assigned to the lower overpotential of Au/Bi0.5Y0.5VO4 for CO evolution than that of bare Bi0.5Y0.5VO4 as well as the formation of Schottky barrier, which promotes the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs.