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Enhancing CO Selectivity in CO2 Photoreduction via Local Hydrophobic Modifications in S-Scheme Heterojunctions
Shicheng Liu1,2, Xi Chen2,3, Jing Xiang Ng2
1Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China.
ACS Nano
|October 8, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a novel catalyst (WS/o-CN) using localized hydrophobicity to improve photocatalytic CO2 reduction. This method enhances CO2 adsorption while suppressing water interference, boosting CO production efficiency and selectivity.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Competitive H2O adsorption hinders efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction.
- S-scheme heterojunctions offer promising pathways for enhanced photocatalysis.
- Controlling surface properties is crucial for optimizing catalyst performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize localized hydrophobicity-modified S-scheme heterojunctions (WS/o-CN) for photocatalytic CO2 reduction.
- To investigate the effect of localized hydrophobicity on H2O adsorption and CO2 conversion efficiency.
- To elucidate the mechanism of enhanced CO2-to-CO conversion using advanced characterization techniques.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of WS2/g-C3N4 heterojunctions modified with CTAB for localized hydrophobicity.
- Structural, optical, and electrochemical characterization (XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV-Vis, PL, EIS).
- In situ XPS, fs-TA, molecular dynamics simulations, and DRIFTS for mechanistic studies.
- Photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity testing under visible light irradiation.
Main Results:
- WS/o-CN heterojunctions with confirmed S-scheme structure and localized hydrophobicity were successfully synthesized.
- Localized hydrophobicity effectively suppressed H2O adsorption while enhancing CO2 adsorption on the catalyst surface.
- WS/o-CN achieved a CO yield of 23.24 μmol g-1 h-1 with 74.7% selectivity for CO2 to CO conversion.
- Mechanism revealed reduced proton concentration and suppressed H2O interference, facilitating efficient electron transfer for CO2 reduction.
Conclusions:
- Localized hydrophobicity modification is a viable strategy to enhance photocatalytic CO2 reduction efficiency and selectivity.
- The WS/o-CN S-scheme heterojunction demonstrates superior performance by optimizing interfacial properties and electronic structure.
- This study provides valuable insights for designing advanced photocatalysts for sustainable CO2 conversion.
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