Two-Dimensional BiOCl Nanosheet-Encapsulated Cu₂O Octahedra: p-n Junction Photocatalysts for Efficient Visible Light...

Cu₂O has attracted significant attention as a potential photocatalyst for CO₂ reduction. However, its practical use is limited by rapid charge recombination, insufficient catalytic sites, and poor stability. In this study, we report a facile synthesis of Cu₂O@BiOCl core-shell hybrids with a well-defined shape of Cu₂O and a two-dimensional nanosheet structure of BiOCl. The strategic selection of BiOCl nanosheet promotes charge separation efficiency via the formation of interfacial p-n junction and provides the active site for the CO₂ reduction leading to enhanced photocatalytic CO₂-to-CH₄ conversion efficiency. In addition, the core-shell hybrids also showed improved stability against photocorrosion of Cu₂O. These findings highlight the potential of Cu₂O@BiOCl core-shell hybrids as robust and efficient photocatalysts for sustainable fuel production.