Metal-induced oxygen vacancies on Bi2WO6 for efficient CO2 photoreduction

Semiconductor-based photocatalysis for efficient solar energy conversion is an ideal strategy to tackle the growing global and environmental crisis. However, development of still limited by problems such as low utilization visible light, efficiency charge transfer separation, insufficient reactive sites. Herein, Au nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on surface Bi2WO6 a one-step reduction method, which simultaneously induced formation oxygen vacancies (OVs) Bi2WO6. The OVs concentration found be increased with increase loading. NPs improve light absorption facilitate separation transport photogenerated carriers. In addition, act synergistically nearby metal active sites optimize adsorption reactants catalyst surface, changing form CO2 molecules surface. as-synthesized photocatalyst achieved photocatalytic performance up 34.8 µmol g−1 h−1 CO without sacrificial agent in gas-solid system, 9.4 times higher than that pristine This work may further deepen our understanding relationship between OVs, their combined role photocatalysis.