Light-facilitated structure reconstruction on self-optimized photocatalyst TiO2@BiOCl for selectively efficient conversion of CO2 to CH4

Developing well-designed photocatalysts with optimal activity and selectivity is a promising strategy for converting CO2 to renewable fuels. Herein, a self-optimized photocatalyst TiO2@BiOCl is prepared by facile growth of ultrathin BiOCl lamina on the defective surface of TiO2 nanotube. Facilitated from light irradiation, H-incorporated oxygen vacancies form on defective TiO2 nanotube matrix to extend light adsorption range, meanwhile Bi0 atom is reduced from BiOCl lamina to restructure atomic heterojunction BiOCl-Bi0-TiO2. Bi0 atom pours photo-generated electrons directly to Ti3+ in H-incorporated oxygen vacancy, gathering electrons efficiently to accelerate the photocatalytic efficiency. Bi-Ti dual metal sites and H-incorporated oxygen vacancies optimize CO2 reduction path to achieve high CH4 selectivity. Finally, the magnificent surface-reconstruction on TiO2@BiOCl chalks up highest CH4 productivity rate of 168.5 μmol g−1 h−1 and optimal CH4 selectivity of 99.4 % during CO2 photoreduction. Thus, the pioneering construction of efficient photocatalyst with self-optimized strategy paves a new way to fabricate efficient photocatalyst.