MgO and Au nanoparticle Co-modified g-C3N4 photocatalysts for enhanced photoreduction of CO2 with H2O

The photoreduction of CO2 to achieve high-value-added hydrocarbons under simulated sunlight irradiation is advantageous, but challenging. In this study, a series MgO and Au nanoparticle-co-modified g-C3N4 photocatalysts were synthesized subsequently applied for the photocatalytic reduction with H2O solar irradiation. best performance was demonstrated by 3% MgO-co-modified CO, CH4, CH3OH, CH3CHO yields 423.9, 83.2, 47.2, 130.4 ?mol/g, respectively, in 3-h reaction. We investigated effects as cocatalysts on behaviors, respectively. characterizations experimental results showed that enhanced activity due synergistic effect among components ternary photocatalyst. cocatalyst can activate (adsorbed at interface between particles), Mg-N bonds formed MgO-CN nanosheets played an important role charge transfer. Meanwhile, particles modified into MgO/g-C3N4 increase absorption visible light via surface plasmon resonance further reduce activation energies using H2O. This study provided effective method modification traditional primary promising reduction.