CdSe/ZIF-8-x: synthesis and photocatalytic CO₂ reduction performance

The photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ is an effective way to solve the greenhouse effect. Different kinds of materials, such as semiconductors, coordination compounds, and bioenzymes, have been widely investigated to increase the efficiency of the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂. However, a high selectivity and great stability are still challenges for material scientists. Here, we report for the first time visible light photocatalytic CO₂ reduction by a series of CdSe/ZIF-8 nanocomposites combining the excellent CO₂ adsorption capacity of ZIF-8 and the narrow energy gap of CdSe quantum dots (QDs). The composites show a higher catalytic performance than those of the pure components. Among CdSe/ZIF-8-x (x = n _CdSe/n _ZIF-8), the highest yield (42.317 μmol g^-1) for reducing CO₂ to CO in 12 h, was obtained using nanocomposites with a ratio of 0.42 (n _CdSe/n _ZIF-8) within the range of investigation.