Inorganic Copper-Based Halide Perovskite for Efficient Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Lead (Pb) toxicity necessitates exploring Pb-free alternatives for halide perovskites.
• Developing efficient photocatalysts for CO2 reduction is crucial for mitigating climate change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and investigate copper-based halide perovskites (CsCuCl3 and CsCuCl2Br) as novel, eco-friendly photocatalysts for CO2 reduction.
• To evaluate the impact of bromine substitution on the photocatalytic efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Antisolvent recrystallization was used to synthesize CsCuCl3 and CsCuCl2Br microcrystals (MCs).
• Electronic structure and charge transfer properties were analyzed using theoretical and experimental methods.
• Photocatalytic CO2 reduction was performed, and electron consumption rates were measured.

Main Results:

• CsCuCl3 exhibits a suitable bandgap (1.92 eV) and conduction band minimum for solar-driven CO2 conversion.
• Bromine substitution in CsCuCl2Br narrowed the bandgap and improved charge carrier transport.
• CsCuCl2Br MCs achieved a high electron consumption rate of 44.71 μmol g-1 h-1, outperforming CsPbBr3 and other perovskite nanocatalysts.

Conclusions:

• Copper-based perovskites are promising lead-free candidates for artificial photosynthesis and photocatalytic applications.
• This research offers a new strategy for developing low-cost, efficient, and environmentally benign photocatalysts.